Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, was a dedicated advocate for the development of the youth and the future of India. He spent numerous hours engaging with children across the nation, answering their questions and providing guidance. In the following responses, he shares his insights on various topics, including the importance of hard work, the role of science, memorable experiences from his childhood, and how to live a meaningful life.
- Full Name and Childhood Friend: Dr. Kalam’s full name is Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam. His best friend during his school days was Pakshi Ramanatha Sastry.
- The Role of Fortune: Dr. Kalam emphasizes that hard work is the key to success, and fortune favors those who are persistent in their efforts.
- The First Scientist: He believes that science is born out of questions, and children, with their endless curiosity, are the first scientists.
- Remembering Formulas: Constant application and practice help in remembering scientific and mathematical formulas.
- Happiest Day of Life: Dr. Kalam recalls the joy of seeing children with polio walking and running after receiving light-weight prosthetics, which was one of the happiest moments in his life.
- Unforgettable Childhood Incident: He remembers his class V teacher, Shri Sivasubramania Iyer, who inspired him with lessons on birds and flight at the seashore of Rameswaram, which influenced his passion for science.
- Becoming a Good Human Being: According to Dr. Kalam, combining hard work, scientific temper, and spirituality will lead one to be a good human being. He also encourages people to find good in others.
- Definition of Courage: Dr. Kalam defines courage as saving others from disaster, without caring about one’s own safety.
- Message to Citizens of India: Dr. Kalam’s ten-point oath urges youth to dedicate themselves to education, community service, environmental protection, fighting addiction, eliminating social barriers, and contributing to the betterment of society.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
- What is Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s full name?
- a) Abdul Kalam
- b) Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam
- c) Pakshi Ramanatha Sastry
- d) Sivasubramania Iyer
- Answer: b) Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam
- Who was Dr. Kalam’s best friend in school?
- a) Joshi Bhoomi
- b) Pakshi Ramanatha Sastry
- c) Devesh Ranjan
- d) Harsh Chandak
- Answer: b) Pakshi Ramanatha Sastry
- According to Dr. Kalam, what comes first before fortune?
- a) Luck
- b) Hard work
- c) Money
- d) Influence
- Answer: b) Hard work
- Who does Dr. Kalam consider the first scientist in the world?
- a) Isaac Newton
- b) Albert Einstein
- c) Children
- d) Galileo
- Answer: c) Children
- What is the key to remembering various formulas in science and maths, according to Dr. Kalam?
- a) Reading textbooks
- b) Constant application
- c) Listening to teachers
- d) Taking notes
- Answer: b) Constant application
- What was Dr. Kalam’s happiest day?
- a) When he became President
- b) When children with polio started walking
- c) When he won the Bharat Ratna
- d) When he gave his first speech
- Answer: b) When children with polio started walking
- Which teacher inspired Dr. Kalam in his childhood?
- a) Shri Sivasubramania Iyer
- b) Shri Ramesh Sharma
- c) Shri Vinod Kumar
- d) Shri Manoj Gupta
- Answer: a) Shri Sivasubramania Iyer
- What did Dr. Kalam say is essential to becoming a good human being?
- a) Fame and power
- b) Hard work, scientific temper, and spirituality
- c) Intelligence and wealth
- d) Popularity
- Answer: b) Hard work, scientific temper, and spirituality
- How does Dr. Kalam define courage?
- a) Never giving up
- b) Saving others from disaster without caring for one’s own safety
- c) Speaking in public
- d) Climbing mountains
- Answer: b) Saving others from disaster without caring for one’s own safety
- What is Dr. Kalam’s message to the citizens of India?
- a) Focus on personal success
- b) Help the needy
- c) Dedicate oneself to education, community service, and environmental protection
- d) Become rich and famous
- Answer: c) Dedicate oneself to education, community service, and environmental protection
- What did Dr. Kalam encourage students to do for the society?
- a) Start businesses
- b) Teach at least ten persons to read and write
- c) Pursue higher education abroad
- d) Only focus on self-improvement
- Answer: b) Teach at least ten persons to read and write
- What is part of Dr. Kalam’s ten-point oath for the youth of India?
- a) Get a job in the government
- b) Plant at least ten saplings
- c) Travel the world
- d) Compete with peers
- Answer: b) Plant at least ten saplings
- What is Dr. Kalam’s stance on religious, caste, and language differences?
- a) He believes in segregation
- b) He supports all differences
- c) He opposes any form of discrimination
- d) He is neutral
- Answer: c) He opposes any form of discrimination
- What did Dr. Kalam say about mental and physical challenges?
- a) Ignore them
- b) Work hard to make challenged individuals feel normal
- c) Avoid interactions with challenged individuals
- d) Only focus on the challenges
- Answer: b) Work hard to make challenged individuals feel normal
- What is the ultimate goal of Dr. Kalam’s ten-point oath for the youth?
- a) Achieving fame
- b) Building a corruption-free society
- c) Becoming a celebrity
- d) Making money
- Answer: b) Building a corruption-free society
- What did Dr. Kalam believe was necessary to create an enlightened citizen?
- a) Wealth
- b) Education and righteous family values
- c) Political power
- d) Fame and recognition
- Answer: b) Education and righteous family values
- What does Dr. Kalam emphasize as a means of personal growth?
- a) Wealth accumulation
- b) Hard work and dedication
- c) Personal fame
- d) Influence over others
- Answer: b) Hard work and dedication
- What was one unforgettable incident from Dr. Kalam’s childhood?
- a) Winning a science competition
- b) Learning about flight at Rameswaram
- c) Traveling to foreign countries
- d) Meeting a scientist
- Answer: b) Learning about flight at Rameswaram
- What does Dr. Kalam encourage youth to fight against?
- a) Economic instability
- b) Addiction and gambling
- c) Political corruption
- d) Technological obsolescence
- Answer: b) Addiction and gambling
- What did Dr. Kalam consider as a way to contribute to the country’s success?
- a) Personal achievements
- b) Helping the nation’s economy
- c) Celebrating the success of the country and its people
- d) Supporting the government
- Answer: c) Celebrating the success of the country and its people
Reading Comprehension
A. Answer the following questions:
1. What suggestion does President Kalam give to children for remembering the science of mule?
Ans.About remembering the science formulae. Press-dent Kalam suggested to the children that they can be remembered by constant application.
2. Describe Kalam’s happiest day.
Ans. Once Kalam was working with doctors to get lightweight Floor Reaction Orthosis for polio-affected persons. After taking measurements, when the children were fitted with it, weighing 1 / 10th of the original weight which they were carrying, the children started running, walking and pedalling cycles. Their mobility brought tears of joy in the eyes of their parents. The sight of happiness on their faces was bliss for him. This was the happiest day of his life.
3. Why does the president remember his class teacher so much?
Ans. President remembers his class teacher of class V Shri Sivasubramania Iyer so much because he taught them in his lectures how birds fly by showing real-life examples at the seashore of Rameswaram. It was an unforgettable occasion for him. It helped him to take up the study of science.
4. What is courage according to Dr. Kalam?
Ans. According to Dr Kalam courage is saving both- ers from disaster without minding about your own safety.
5. Which point do you like the most in the 10 points oath?
Ans. I like the seventh point the most. It says that I will be honest and endeavour to make a corrupt- tion-free society.