Turning point: Watching flight of birds shaped Prez's life

Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, Sep 22 (UNI) Watching the flight of birds on the sea shore shaped President A P J Abdul Kalam's life as a rocket engineer, aerospace engineer and a technologist.

Interacting with students of the district here, Dr Kalam said today an incident of his teacher teaching a lesson using a live visual example proved to be a turning point in his life and eventually shaped his profession.

''When I was studying in fifth class, my teacher Siva Subramania Iyer gave us a lecture for nearly 25 minutes on how the birds create lift and fly,'' Dr Kalam said.

''But most of us could not understand anything. However, our teacher took us to the sea shore and asked us to watch closely. We all understood the whole bird-dynamics from this practical example.

He could give us a theoretical lesson coupled with a live practical example available in nature.'' ''This is real teaching. I am sure many of the teachers in schools and colleges will follow this example,'' he added.

''The bird's flight entered into me and created a special feeling. I thought my future study has to be with reference to flight and flight systems,'' he said.

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