HYDERABAD: A couple of research centers in Hyderabad are planning to observe the 84th birth anniversary of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam by doing what he liked best - teaching. While one is planning to invite young minds, the other wants to invite teachers so that they can pass on what they have learnt to thousands of students.
Research Centre Imarat (RCI), the brain child of Kalam, has invited 250 Class VI and VII students from government schools in Warangal and Mahbubnagar districts to its campus on October 15 to give them a feel of what scientists do.
Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Director, RCI, said, “Selected students from Warangal and Mahbubnagar districts will be visiting our campus and will get a chance to spend a day with our scientists. We want to inspire them by showing the work done by great scientists so that they will get motivated and excel in whatever path they choose.”
The same evening, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will also be renaming the Missile Complex in Hyderabad as Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Missile Complex and school students will get a chance to witness the programme, Satheesh added.
The Missile Complex comprises the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) and the RCI. RCI was close to Kalam’s heart. “Creating the RCI was perhaps the most satisfying experience of my life. Developing this center of excellence of missile technology was akin to the joy of a potter shaping artifacts of lasting beauty from mundane clay,” Kalam had written in his autobiography ‘Wings of Fire’.
On the other hand, CSIR- Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), will open its gates to teachers from various schools to commemorate the birth anniversary of the Missile Man of India. The teachers will also be presented with a copy of ‘Ignited Minds.’
“We have invited about 100 teachers of 8, 9 and 10th classes from various schools. We will be showing them our campus and explain to them the work done by us. We want to motivate the teachers so that they can in turn motivate the kids. Students love teachers and whatever they say will be taken in a positive way,” Srivari Chandrasekhar, Director, IICT said.
“If these teachers find any students, who are really interested in science, then we will try to take those children under our wings and guide them accordingly,” Chandrasekhar added.