News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

This article was first published 15 years ago
Rediff.com  » Business » Kalam says 'global sourcing' need of the hour

Kalam says 'global sourcing' need of the hour

By Bal Krishna in Toronto
April 18, 2008 19:11 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Mooting 'global sourcing' to deal with challenges faced by humanity, former President A P J Abdul Kalam has asked students to break geographic barriers and jointly focus on formulating strategies for priority areas like food, energy, water and healthcare.

"Global sourcing is born out of creative minds working together, irrespective of geographical boundaries, to achieve a common goal leading to prosperity," Kalam said delivering a guest lecture on 'Canada and India -- partnership in global development' at the University of Waterloo.

Over 500 students, faculty members, including R L Narayan, high commissioner of India, and other dignitaries attended the the 45-minute presentation on Thursday that stressed the importance of sharing knowledge and resources.

Looking at the lineup, one would've thought a rock star was visiting the University of Waterloo.

Kalam, who was known as the people's President during his five-year stint which ended last year, said that priority areas for collaboration include energy, water, healthcare, agriculture and food processing, disaster prediction and transportation systems.

Citing an example from India, Kalam said students at a women's engineering college in the Tanjore area of south India teamed up with farmers from 64 villages for a unique project.

With the students' help, impoverished farmers began using solar panels, learned how to harvest water and make best use of their land which changed their lives.

This is what he implored students to do -- share their knowledge and make a difference in people's lives.

Kalam didn't dwell on his years as president. Instead, he appealed for global collaboration as a way to achieve prosperity.

Amit Chakma, vice-president academic and a professor in the department of chemical engineering, said Kalam's message was inspiring.

"He's a great scientist, leader and teacher," Chakma said.

After the lecture, Kalam was mobbed by people wanting his picture and autograph.

"He was amazing," said Manjula Ravindran, a young lab technician at the university. She moved to Canada in 2002, just months before Kalam became president of India.

She'd heard he was politically astute, had a vision and was connected to youth."He truly lived up to his reputation."

An aeronautical engineer, Kalam spearheaded India's first satellite launch vehicle in 1980 and was a guiding force behind the testing of India's missile programme.

A poet and amateur musician, he's also written 13 books, including Ignited Minds, which explores nation-building. In 1997, he received the Bharat Ratna, India's country's highest civilian honour.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Bal Krishna in Toronto
Source: PTI© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.
 

Moneywiz Live!