VELLORE: The Vellore Institute of Development Studies (VIDS) and the Pernambut Consumer Welfare Protection Society have appealed to the Government of India to declare October 15, the birthday of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, as National Youth Day and National Student Day respectively.
Founder director of VIDS, Dr P Jegadish Gandhi, said that Kalam had worked relentlessly for the development of youth and all his writings and messages were aimed to motivate the youth. The Missile Man had inspired them to dream and work hard to realize the same. He wanted them to fulfil their ambitions for the development of the nation.
Describing Abdul Kalam as a self-made man, Gandhi said, “We have lost a humane past President of India. He constantly thought about the upliftment of 126 crore Indians. He envisioned an earthly paradise of developed India for all by 2020. He also energized young minds and was a non-political leader, inter-faith symbolizer, and above all a nationalist”, he added.
The president of the Pernambut Consumer Welfare Protection Society said the former president spent his lifetime uplifting the student community. Society president T Basheeruddin while thanking the State government for declaring a holiday on July 30, pointed out that the State government should together with the Centre declare Kalam’s birthday as National Students day.