Chennai students urge Centre to proclaim Dr Kalam's birthday as Students' Day

Chennai, Oct.15 (ANI): Students launched a mass signature campaign here on Friday urging the Central Government to proclaim the day as Students' Day on the occasion of former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam's birthday.

Tamil actor Vivek inaugurated this campaign from the premises of Little Flower Matriculation Higher Secondary School, which was later joined by students and teachers of various other schools in the city.

"Former President Dr. Kalam has been talking about students, writing for students and meeting students. He is cultivating, igniting the young minds of India, and that is why his books are the top sellers. You cannot see any other scientist's books selling like this! It is no fiction, it is his life's autobiography, and so that is the best sellers till now," said Vivek

"That shows how much students are fascinated with his life and his career. So, throughout India there is one day to be celebrated as Students' Day, the living legend Abdul Kalam's birthday," he added.

The campaign has been launched in three modes of which one is online campaign, while the other two are Short Message Service (SMS).

"Abdul Kalam is the only person who motivates all the students all the time. He spends and talks only with the students. Whenever he gets the time, he spends the time only with the children. Always his write-ups will only motivate the children to hand over the future responsibility of the future India only to the younger generation," said John Xavier Thangaraj, Principal of Little Flower Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Chennai.

"We are taking up the project and we ask the Government of India soon to declare Abdul Kalam's birthday as Indian Students' Day," he added.

Students were an enthusiastic lot and hoped this campaign would be fruitful.

"His entire activities revolve around the students and such a quality has inspired us, the community of students, by and large. This is the reason why we feel that his birthday should be celebrated across the country as Students' Day. We are trying only for this to become a reality and we hope we would achieve it," said Kumar, a student.

The organisers of this campaign also informed that those, who wish to vote through online can log on to www.kalam4students.in and cast their vote or relay their opinion through SMS on mobile telephone number 56677. (ANI)