Overcome defeatist spirit, Kalam tells Indians

Madikeri, Karnataka, Apr 7 (UNI) Asserting that the quality of the Indian mind is second to none, President A P J Abdul Kalam today called for the destruction of defeatist spirit among the countrymen to achieve success.

''Success can only come to you by courageous devotion to the task lying in front of you. What we lack is perhaps courage...the driving force which takes one anywhere. We have, I think, developed an inferiority complex...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 civilisation, 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,'' he said, quoting Nobel Laureate Sir C V Raman.

Addressing the birth centenary celebrations of General K S Thimayya here, the President said courage to defend the nation, courage to innovate, courage to invent and courage to overcome the sufferings and to succeed were indeed the traits that led to the growth of human civilisation.

Hailing Gen Thimayya for his unsurpassable leadership quality, integrity, loyalty, influence on people and above all his courage, Mr Kalam credited the protection of Leh and Ladakh to the indomitable leadership of Gen Thimayya, attempting out-of-the-box innovative solutions.

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