President Ram Nath Kovind this morning made a visit to the government school on Raj Bhavan premises along with Governor ESL Narasimhan, Deputy Chief Ministers Kadium Srihari and Mohammed Mahmood Ali, Khairatabad MLA Chintala Ramachandra Reddy and others.
The President interacted with the students and advised them to go through the biographies of freedom fighters and other stalwarts, who contributed to the nation like former President Abdul Kalam. Kovind also exhorted the students to make persistent efforts in education and excel in their endeavors.
President said Dr. Abdul Kalam also rose from humble background like them. Born at Rameshwaram near Ramanathapuram in Tamilnadu, his family was poor and could not afford to send him for higher education. But Dr. Kalam was much interested in higher education. He used to sell newspapers every morning and used to pay his school fees with the money earned. Every day he used to travel by bicycle for 20 to 40 km to attend school. He said there was no substitute to hard work and that only through hard work they can rise in life. Children have to set themselves goals and strive hard to achieve them.
The President said the teachers should take proper are and teach Hindi to students by taking extra classes necessary, even it was an optional subject. The President said that the responsibility lies with the teachers to forge the ideals of national integration of the country among the children. He said that the country is in the process of moving ahead as an economic power in the world.
Pays floral tributes at Buddha statue
The President also made a visit to the Hussain Sagar at 10.30 am and paid floral tributes to Lord Buddha. Amidst high-security arrangements near Tank Bund area, the President reached the Lumbini Park and took a special boat ride to the Buddha statue in the middle of Hussain Sagar. As Buddhist monks chanted prayers, Kovind paid tributes to Buddha statue and later, interacted with the monks. He was accompanied by Governors ESL Narasimhan and Ch Vidyasagar Rao and others. He was explained about the Buddha statue which was considered as the world’s tallest monolith statue of Buddha. (NSS)