Ajmer : 17.11.2005

I am indeed delighted to attend the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Military School, Ajmer and interact with the students. Military school of Ajmer is in the 76th orbit around the sun in its quest to provide quality education with character building as a motto and prepare the cadets to join Defence Services. Will you join? On this occasion, I particularly greet the principal, teachers, students, parents, central governing council members, organizers and the distinguished guests.

Here I would like to talk to you on how to face the challenges in our life with courage and indomitable spirit. I recall on 15th August 2005 when I was paying the floral tribute at the Amar Jawan Jyoti with the chiefs of Armed Forces, let me share with you my feelings which I had, while saluting the courageous soldiers who fought for our nation.

Amar Jawan Jyoti

Lights our heart with courage

Radiates to the nation, devotion

Spread the message of sacrifice

Ignites confidence upon our nation ......

Courage to defend the nation, courage to innovate, courage to invent and courage to overcome the sufferings and to succeed, are indeed the traits that led to the growth of human civilization. Let us remember the courageous acts and study certain events of our society on this occasion.

The great human beings show courage against injustice

Now I would like to describe the courage shown by Mahatma Gandhi when he was thrown out from a train in South Africa in 1893.

During my recent visit to South Africa in 2004, I boarded a train at Penrich railway station near Durban for a journey to Pietermartizburg, just tracing the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi. It was from Durban station that Mahatma embarked on the fateful journey that in later years is regarded as having changed the course of his life. He boarded the train on 7th June, 1893 in order to travel to Pretoria, where he was due to meet legal clients. A first class seat was booked for him. The train reached Pietermaritzburg station at about 9.00 p.m. A white passenger entering the compartment could not stomach coloured person traveling with him. So he went out returned with two officials who ordered Gandhiji to move to the van compartment. Later, a white constable was called who took Gandhiji by hand and pushed him out of the train. His luggage was also taken out and the train continued its journey without him. Gandhiji spent the night in the waiting room. It was winter and the weather was bitterly cold. And although his overcoat was in the luggage, Gandhiji did not ask for it fearing further insults. Gandhiji contemplated returning to India but decided that such a course would be cowardice. He vowed to stay and fight the disease of racial prejudice. This changed the course of his life. Gandhiji even said: "my active non-violence began from that date'. The train and the compartments in which we traveled were exactly similar to the compartments in which Mahatma traveled. When I got down at the Pietermartizburg station, I saw the plaque in whose vicinity the Mahatma was thrown out. I went to the waiting room also where Mahatma spent the cold wintry night. The action of Mahatma Gandhi shows his courage when he was insulted by the white constable which later led to the birth of Ahimsa Dharma. This was the first movement in South Africa against racial discrimination. The people of South African remember the courageous action of Mahatma Gandhi and they are grateful nationally. Apartheid in South Africa at that time were indeed an experience for Mahatma Gandhi. It became for India's freedom movement.

Next I would like to remember and appreciate the acts of bravery of two of our great soldiers, who are the role models for our youth. One of them participated in the 1965 war and the other in the 1971 war.

Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh

Promoted to Squadron Leader in 1944, Arjan Singh led the Squadron against the Japanese during the Arakan Campaign flying close support during the crucial Imphal Campaign and later assisting the advance of the allied forces to Rangoon, Burma. For his role in successfully leading the squadron in combat, Arjan Singh received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in 1944.

Later in 1965 Air Marshal Arjan Singh ensured that the air force struck the Pakistani offensive in an hour after the request by the Defence Minister in September 1965. He led the air Force through the war showing successful leadership and effort. It must be said that the credit for thwarting Ayub Khan's grandiose plans to capture Kashmir in September 1965 is shared by the Army and the Indian Air Force, and Arjan Singh for leading the air force through the war. Nation gratefully recognizes Arjan Singhji with the title Marshal of the Air Force.

Field Marshal S.H.F.J. Manekshaw

During World War II, the young officer Manekshaw was leading a counter-offensive against the invading Japanese Army in Burma. As he charged forward with his men, a Japanese soldier suddenly emerged from the bushes and fired at him, wounding him seriously in the stomach. Fortunately, Major General D.T. Cowan spotted Manekshaw holding on to life and was aware of his valour in face of stiff resistance from the Japanese. Fearing the worst, Major General Cowan quickly pinned his own Military Cross ribbon on to Manekshaw saying, "A dead person cannot be awarded a Military Cross."

Later in 1971 General Manekshaw, prepared our Army for a well-planned and a well executed operation against Pakistan leading to the creation of Bangladesh. As Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee, he welded the Army, Navy and Air Force into a well-knit team. He ensured the taking over of 90,000 Pakistan POWs, thereby paving the way for favourable conditions for negotiations. Nation gratefully recognizes Manekshawji with the title "Field Marshal of the Indian Army." You should dream and work to become Marshal of the Air like Arjan Singhji or Field Marshal like Manekshawji.

We have seen how courageous minds have faced the challenges and succeeded the hurdles with indomitable spirit. Now, I would like to discuss on how creative mind takes on the impossible things and converts them into a possible ventures.

Nothing is impossible?

Human flight is nothing but creativity of human mind and it undergoes several struggles to achieve excellence. In 1895, a great well-known scientist Lord Kelvin, who was the President of Royal Society of London said, "any thing heavier than air cannot fly, and cannot be flown." Within a decade, Wright Brothers proved man could fly of course at heavy risk and cost.

On the successful completion of Moon Mission in 1969, Von Braun, a very famous rocket designer, who built Saturn-V, to launch the capsule with astronauts and made moon walk a reality, in 1975 said "If I am authorized, I will remove the word impossible". What a scientific struggle had to take place to prove that the earth is spherical in shape orbiting around the sun. The three great astronomers Copernicus, Galileo and Kepler had to give a new dimension to the world of astronomy. Today we take it for granted that earth is a globe, orbiting around the sun, and the sun orbits in the Milky Way. All the technological advancements we have today are the outcome of scientific exploration of scientists of earlier centuries. At no time, man was beaten by problems. He strives continuously to subjugate impossibility and then succeeds.

According to the laws of aerodynamics the bumblebee should never be able to fly. Because of the size, weight, and shape of its body in relationship to the total wing span, flying is scientifically impossible. The bumblebee, being ignorant of scientific theory, goes ahead and flies anyway. I would like the students assembled here to take a lesson from these examples and work to make everything possible.

Conclusion

Now I would like to recall a great clarion call of indomitable spirit, which was given by Sir CV Raman, at the age of 82. The message is still reverberating in my mind: "I would like to tell the young men and women before me not to lose hope and courage. Success can only come to you by courageous devotion to the task lying in front of you. I can assert without fear of contradiction that the quality of the Indian mind is equal to the quality of any Teutonic, Nordic or Anglo-Saxon mind. What we lack is perhaps courage, what we lack is perhaps driving force which takes one anywhere. We have, I think, developed an inferiority complex. I think what is needed in India today is the destruction of that defeatist spirit. We need a spirit of victory, a spirit that will carry us to our rightful place under the sun, a spirit, which will recognise that we, as inheritors of a proud civilization, are entitled to a rightful place on this planet. If that indomitable spirit were to arise, nothing can hold us from achieving our rightful destiny."

So far we have seen how the courageous and creative minds with indomitable spirit converting the challenges, which confronts them into possible opportunities, and defeat the problems and succeed.

My best wishes to all the students who are preparing themselves to contribute for the national growth in transforming the nation into a developed nation before 2020 with courage, perseverance and determination to face the challenges of life and succeed in their missions with Indomitable Spirit. I greet the Military school, Ajmer to become successful in their mission of creating excellence in every sphere of character building.

Dear students, can we together take a vow to make our nation great? Are you ready?

"Courage to defend the nation, courage to innovate, courage to invent and courage to overcome the sufferings and to succeed, are indeed the traits that led to the growth of human civilization. I, as a citizen of India, will work with courage and knowledge to transform my nation into a prosperous, happy and safe India."

My best wishes for success in all your missions.

May God bless you.

DR. A.P.J. Abdul KalamFORMER PRESIDENT OF INDIATerm of Office: 25th July 2002 - 25th July 2007

Address At The Platinum Jubilee Celebrations Of The Military School, Ajmer

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