We want to go to the moon, schoolkids tell Kalam

BHOPAL - Students of a city-based school had a field day Monday interacting with former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who too received a pleasant surprise when the children told him that they wanted to be astronauts.

Kalam addressed students at the Model Senior Secondary School here, and asked them about their career choices.

Most of the students, of classes X to XII, said they wanted to be scientists and engineers.

“How many of you want to go to moon and space?” he asked. Everyone in the hall raised his hands, to his delight.

“At 2030, when I would be hundred years old, I would meet you again,” he joked.

The students were equally emphatic in their rejections.

“How many of you want to become politicians?” the former president asked.

Not one hand was raised.

There was a virtual riot after Kalam finished speaking, with students rushing up to shake hands with him. Some of them also asked Kalam for his number. He asked them to visit his website, and send him emails if they wished.

Kalam, who arrived here Sunday, is scheduled to attend many public meetings throughout Monday.