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.
