Kalam wants to teach nanotech to MIT students

Chennai, Feb 23 (UNI) Notwithstanding his tight schedule and official responsibility, President A P J Abdul Kalam today offered to teach students of technical education on the complex nanotechnology.

The academician in Dr Kalam came to the fore when he inaugurated the International Conference on Singal Processing Communications Networking (ICSCN 2007) at the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) here this evening.

''I will come to the institute within three months and give four or five lectures on nanotechnology and its multi-dimensions,'' Dr Kalam, who is making his maiden visit to the MIT after becoming President, said much to the delight of the students.

The President said he was keen on teaching the UG students in particular and asked Vice Chancellor D Viswanathan to make the necessary arrangements.

An alumnus of the MIT, Dr Kalam, while recalling his student days at the Institute during 1954-56, reeled out the names of his tutors and the award he received from Institute Founder C Rajam for academic excellence.

The President surprised one and all by recalling his roll number (662).

At the start of the function, the President, observing that those sharing the dais with him were silent when the National Anthem was being sung, signalled them to join him.

Tamil Nadu Ministers K Ponmudi, Thangam Thennarasu and Viswanathan, who were on the dias, were taken aback for a while and started singing the National Anthem along with the First Citizen.

UNI