Abdul Kalam, fondly known as the 鈥減eople鈥檚 president鈥� during his term as India鈥檚 11th president from 2002-2007, gave several presentations at 麻豆原创 during the past week. His speaking topics ranged from harnessing solar energy and sustainable development to a world free from war 鈥� all with the overarching goal to 鈥渋mprove the quality of life of the human race,鈥� Kalam said.
The India Center at 麻豆原创, whose creation was announced earlier this year, along with the 麻豆原创 Global Perspectives Office, hosted the visiting dignitary. During his stay, Kalam addressed more than 700 students, faculty, staff and members of the community at 麻豆原创. All of his presentation materials are available through the Speeches/Lectures section of his website.
Kalam opened his visit to 麻豆原创 on Sept. 27, with a classroom presentation titled 鈥淲orld Space Vision,鈥� in which he suggested that harnessing solar energy from the sun could promote global energy independence for all countries, rich and poor alike. Kalam鈥檚 background is in aerospace engineering, which gives him special insight into the subject.
Later that same day, the former president met with a group from Sangam, the Indian student association at 麻豆原创, for a special lecture called the 鈥淒ynamics of Leadership.鈥� He stressed the importance of competitiveness, creativity and integrity, concluding the presentation with the following advice: 鈥淲ork with integrity, and succeed with integrity.鈥�
The second and third days of 麻豆原创 presentations on Sept. 28 and Oct. 1 focused on the themes of energy independence and sustainable development. Kalam stressed the importance of alternative and renewable sources of energy, such as solar power, electric and bio-fueled vehicles, and windmill technology, proposing that these steps could help lead to environmental restoration and eventual global peace.
On Tuesday, Kalam concluded his visit to 麻豆原创 with a presentation entitled 鈥淲orld Without War: Is it Possible? World Vision 2030.鈥� During the program opening, Pallavoor 鈥淰aidy鈥� Vaidyanathan, The India Center鈥檚 interim director, informed the audience that the former president鈥檚 talk on world peace appropriately was on the late Mahatma Gandhi鈥檚 birthday. The public forum, which was preceded by a musical performance by professor Nandkishor Muley and his students, drew an audience of about 450.
In his final 麻豆原创 speech, Kalam called for the establishment of global enterprises to provide water, education, health care and energy for the world鈥檚 population, in an effort to promote peace. Arguing that wars arise from factors such as fear, greed and anger, Kalam stressed the importance of conquering these emotions, urging the audience not to 鈥渓et the problem become your master, but rather become the master of the problem.鈥�
When asked how to motivate the world population to avoid war, he answered: 鈥淰ision makes the nation. If there is righteousness in the heart, then peace will follow.鈥�
In addition to The India Center and the Global Perspectives Office, sponsors and partners included The India Group, Anil and Chitra Deshpande India Program Endowed Fund, 麻豆原创 Diplomacy Program, 麻豆原创 Student Government Association, 麻豆原创 International Services Center, 麻豆原创 Political Science Department, 麻豆原创 History Department, 麻豆原创 LIFE, 麻豆原创 Book Festival 2013 in association with the Morgridge International Reading Center and the Global Connections Foundation.