Answers to Questions From Nagpur Children

Q&A

1. Man is progressing fast in Science and Technology but simultaneously he is losing faith in God. Do you think it is a hindrance in path of progress?

Miss Rani Satphale,

Std.IX, Nav Bharat Vidyalaya, Nagpur

Ans: Science and technology is progressing fast. Most of the people who have excelled in science are believers of God. Einstein who discovered E=mC2, whenever he saw the galaxy and the stars, he used to wonder about the miracle of the universe and its creator. Our Nobel laureate Dr C.V. Raman was friendly to the spiritual system. Results will multiply if we promote Science and Technology with firm belief in God.

2. Don't you think the present generation is over burdened; they face pressure from parents & teachers to perform well in school. In what way can you help the children to cope up with the situation?

Master Dewang Pandey

Std.VIII, Sandipani, Nagpur

Ans: YES, wherever I meet parents and teachers I have suggested that it is very important that the children are given freedom to select the choice of subject after 10+2. This is an important parental contribution to the children's growth. Of course the children have the responsibility to hear their inner conscience about their genuine aptitude in the subject and not be governed by opinion from friends and colleagues..

3. What would be the contribution of the children for your concept of converting India into a superpower by 2020 AD?

Master Anurag Wate

Std X, Sanjooba High School

Ans: First and foremost children should excel in their education that is their present task. Whenever they get time, Saturday or Sunday they should go to the nearest villages with their teachers and educate at least five people who cannot read and write. Further if the time is available, they can plant 10 trees either in the school campus or in their houses. After finishing 10+2 a subject in which you have aptitude should be selected and the educational career must be completed. This will enable you to contribute for national development.

4. How science and technology can help in the development of value based society?

Miss Sheetal Choudhary

Std XII, Bhide Girls High School

Ans: Our civilizational heritage is spread in the rural area constituting 700 million people. That is how a joint family system, which takes care of great grand parents and grand parents as a useful part of the families. Also in villages you can see the people of various religions having beautiful connectivity, helpful attitude and love affection for one another. This beautiful fabric of unity can be further enhanced by having a weekly one hour moral science class by reputed social thinkers, scientists, religious leaders etc. upto 10+2 level. Young people when they come out of such institutions will enable promotion of value based society.

5. India has been scientifically developed considerably since the last few years but in spite of that it is still regarded as a country that believes in blind faith and superstitions. How can India change this image about itself?

Master Raunaq Manoharan

St Francis De' Sales' Higher Secondary School

Ans: We have to distinguish between the intensity of faith and superstitious practices. Intensity of faith on saintly individuals is not wrong. Where as the superstitious practices such as differentiating good or bad time should not be encouraged. After all time is dependent on rotation of earth on its axis and the orbiting around the sun. So every instant of the 24 hrs period is a good time.

6. Sir, the problem of brain-drain is being talked about everywhere in India. As a President, which steps will you take to cure this problem and encourage good scientists?

Master Kushal Kadu

Std.IX, Somalwar Junior College (Nikalas branch)

Ans: Historically Indian people have been traveling to different parts of the world for seeking employment or seeking a change in their life style or special attraction for a particular country. Today 20 million Indians are working in different parts of the world. They have taken up a profession and are contributing for the well being of the nation where they are working. In short I can say, with a one billion population movement of 20 million is not big number. India is producing every year more than 300 thousand scientists, engineers, and medical professionals. Out of this, few thousands go out every year for seeking employment and higher education in different countries. These young people wherever they go they are bound by the umbilical relationship with the family and they share the knowledge and wealth. In such as situation, we should not be concerned by this movement. At the same time, it is important for India to build R&D establishments - so that our own scientists working in institutions abroad can come back and work in our laboratories. I am reminded of Nalanda university of Bihar where people from 30 countries of the world used to come for studying philosophy history, religion sociology etc.

7. Sir, you have dealt with the human mind as a teacher and monitored a missile as a missile man. Which do you think is more difficult?

Miss Pranjali Sadavarte,

Std.X, J N Tata Parsi Girls High School

Ans: I am always happy to be a teacher, since it gives me an opportunity to be with the young who are always curious. Their curiosity provides mutual benefit to the teacher and the taught. I have seen during teaching some students excel the teacher in the way of thinking in all respects. The teachers profession is very satisfying compared to any other task.

8. Today, 14th November, the birthday of Chacha Nehru is celebrated as Children's Day. Sir, how would you like your birthday to be celebrated as?

Miss Sai Deshpande

Std VIII, Mundle English Medium School,

Ans: I was at Surat on the day of by 72nd birth day with 15 gurus, reverend fathers, moulvies. Surat Spiritual declaration is a beautiful thing to happen. The conclave has taken decisions on a five point programme. Celebration of inter-religious festivals, multi-religious projects, education in and with the ambience of unity of religions, inter-faith dialogue and national level independent and autonomous organization managed by religious and spiritual leaders as well as scholars and enlightened citizens.

Astronomically every single orbit of the earth around the sun brings a a birth day for an individual. Earth has orbited so many millions of time. Single orbit for an individual is an insignificant phenomenon.

9. We have heard about today's child friendly Rashtrapati Bhavan? When can my schoolmates and I have access to it?

Master Dewang Pandey,

Std. VIII, Sandipani

Ans: Everyday I receive 100 students from different parts of the country. Definitely children are welcome to Rashtrapati Bhavan. We have a children's Gallery, Biodiversity centre with various type of beautiful animals and birds, two herbal farms, apart from the historical buildings of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

10. If you were not a scientist, which other field would have you chosen - politics, acting or teaching?

Miss Sonia Chakravorty

Std X, Mahatma Gandhi C S High School

Ans: Teaching. Particularly teaching in high schools.

11. Every fourth member of NASA is an Indian. Why aren't their services utilized in our country?

Master Gaganprit Singh Sahgal

Std XI, Guru Nanak Higher Secondary School

Ans: Indians as I said earlier, are in many places in US and other countries. First and foremost, our concern today is for 300 million young people below 20 years and 700 million people below 35 years. Fortunately we have a vision to transform India into a developed nation by 2020. This vision will ignite the young minds, that is the most powerful resource on the earth, above the earth and under the earth. I am sure this mission for enlightened citizens will also attract the people who are spread in different parts of the world.

12. What should we prefer in childhood - English or mother tongue? In practice, English makes career and mother tongue gives comfort?

Miss Sharayu Makar

Std V, Walmiki Nagar Hindi Madhyamik Shala

Ans: I myself studied in my mother tongue till secondary school. College onwards I was in English medium. I believe that we can have medium of instruction in mother tongue even in colleges. Mother Tongue provides close connectivity with the thinking of the young. Definitely, we need a language like English for global connectivity.

13. What is the role of a teacher in today's society? One who controls and restricts or one who enlightens?

Master Aditya Bhagwat

Std X, Somalwar Ramdaspeth

Ans: Teachers have a tremendous responsibility. A Greek teacher said that you give me a child for 7 years, no devil or God can change him/her. Teaching provides such a powerful knowledge to the child. The teachers have two types of responsibilities, one to provide knowledge and second, to be a role model. Nobility is the foundation for such a role model. One who creates an enlightened citizen is the real teacher.

14. Is making of another Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam possible in today's un-aided education fees system?

Master Akhil Rathi

Dharampeth High School

Ans: I worked in ISRO for 20 years, and later in DRDO for 20 years. I find the engineers/scientists who worked with me have excelled in the launch vehicle development and technology and they are leaders in the field today. Similarly, in the area of missile technology, I find the people who had worked with me are doing much better tasks and have excelled in various areas. Hence the individual capability is not so very important.

Regarding the question of unaided education fees systems, I have studied with scholarship. The type of education system and the fees structure is definitely far from desirable. We are working for providing some solution to this issue. There is a supreme court judgment directing the institutions to provide a reasonable cost structure for the professional courses.

15. If you get the idea of inventing a "time machine" then for what will you use it first?

Miss B Anusha

Std 9, Saraswati Vidyalaya

Ans: If I invent a time machine, I would like to sit in the time machine, I would like to explore how many numbers of galaxies, how the stars are born, how the human life first started.

16. As the President of this country who really cares and loves children, can't you put an end to child labour and makes the lives of misslions of those poor children worth living?

Miss Rashi Allot

Std 10, St Ursula Girls High School

Ans: Child labour as per Indian law is a crime. Definitely we are all working to see that child labour is eliminated in a decade. At the same time the Parliament has passed a Constitution Amendment Act 2002, to make education for children in the age group of 6-14 years a fundamental right.

17. How can the over exploitation of natural resources and industrialization due to rising population be overcome?

Master Abhiram Mukasdar

Std X, V T Convent

Ans: It is true that one day the fossil fuel like coal, oil and gas will be exhausted since the renewal is not taking place. Also new findings are not talking place. Fortunately, India has three powerful resources - solar power to be harnessed, thorium based nuclear power generation and sea water - by desalination process for drinking and irrigation.

18. How can we have a syllabus which aims at man making rather than degree attainment?

Miss Manasi Sharma

Std 9, Centre Point School

Ans: Syllabus has to be in three parts. Upto primary education, secondary and higher. The primary and seconday syllabus has to bring out the creativity of the children. Naturally the present syllabus has to change upto secondary. Syllabus at higher education should lead the person to become an autonomous learner. Finally education should provide an individual creativity, innonvation, moral and entrepreneurial skills.

19. Will the inter-linking of rivers affect the biodiversity of the country?

Master Kunal Rai

Std X, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Ans: It calls for environmental ecological improvements. Also 10 to 20 percent funds have been allocated for providing afforestation. I see the connectivity between Brahmaputra, Ganges, Mahanadi,Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Vaigai and Tamraparni. I can see the whole nation is connected and the beautiful blossoming of environmental ecology.

20. Aren't we encouraging rote method I our present education system. Isn't there anyway Gandhiji's basic education be revived?

Miss Zeeba Farheen

Std X, Ajuman High School

Ans: I have answered this question in 18. Definitely I believe we need education with value system which presents the experiences of our great leaders in different fields such as science, arts, law, literature and politics.