Sharjah: India’s former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam urged UAE students attending the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) to adopt a “culture of excellence”, saying success was never accidental.
Thousands of students from Indian schools packed the enormous SIBF main hall on Thursday to hear a motivational talk by Abdul Kalam, a scientist who served as president from 2002 to 2007.
The 82-year-old is hugely popular with school goers, having addressed some five million youngsters in recent years.
His entry into the hall was greeted with deafening cheers from students, with organisers repeatedly pleading them to “settle down” so the event could begin.
“Greeting to all schools of the UAE, what a pleasure it is for me... Every student of the UAE remember one thing — the culture of excellence,” Abdul Kalam said.
“Excellence is not by accident. It’s where the country strives to better oneself, takes calculated risks, sets objectives and reaches targets.
“It’s when the country is not in competition with anyone else but themselves... I’m sure the schools of the UAE and India will provide these types of value-based education.”
Abdul Kalam, sometimes dubbed the Missile Man of India for his role in India’s missile development programmes, also praised India’s recent launch of a spacecraft to orbit Mars.
Abdul Kalam later took tough questions from students, mainly revolving around India’s problems of poverty, corruption and communal tension.
“You’re all students, if you excel you’ll become great doctors, engineers, administrators and honest politicians. Every politician will see how India has changed,” he said.
Abdul Kalam stressed India’s cultural diversity is a strength rather than a disadvantage. He added that India was heading towards narrowing the rich-poor divide.
“Today, India’s [developmental] problem is in the rural areas. With more connectivity in knowledge and technology, the gap [between rich and poor] will close. I expect in seven to 10 years a good change in technology.”
Books authored by Abdul Kalam were available for purchase at SIBF, with most titles priced between Dh20-30.
Considered one of the four largest book fairs in the world, this year’s SIBF welcomes representatives from 53 countries, and the participation of 1,010 local and international publishing houses, offering more than 400,000 titles.
The book fair is being held till November 16 at the Sharjah Expo Centre.