Momentarily stumped
The former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam usually peppers his speeches with childhood anecdotes, his encounters with Nobel Laureates, and even poetry that is read out as a pledge. But a recent function, as he was pressed for time, he kept the interaction with students to a maximum of two questions.
At the same function, the former Director of IISc. P. Balaram kept his speech short, and said he would take questions.
After patiently answering questions by numerous students, Prof. Balaram was momentarily stumped by a teacher’s question on India not producing Nobel-prize-winning scientists. “Like Dr. Kalam, I should have taken questions only from students,” he said to raucous laughter.
Musician’s role
Taking part in recent music programme, the former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said a musician’s role has to extend beyond the performance.
“A social responsibility or a larger accountability towards society’s progress is what melody has to address. Why can’t musicians teach the poor and needy?” he said. “Pandit Jasraj’s Music Therapy Concert organised for the inmates of Alipore Jail was an outstanding example of a warm gesture to help the inmates de-stress. “As a President, I used to often request visiting musicians at Rashtrapathi Bhavan to give concerts for larger causes,” said Dr. Kalam.
Mohit M. Rao
and Ranjani Govind
