Teacher 1 - Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam

Few are the noble souls - The Masters! They come down to this earth, To live an exemplary life And then suddenly, make their transition from this earth To be warmly embraced by the heavens! Their life on earth, rich and fruitful Leaving behind a legacy of wisdom Of powerful thoughts, Of eloquent expressions Of worthy and kind deeds Stamping an indelible mark Into the pages of world history! He was known as the people's President of India, The Missile man -Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam A gem of a human being Humility personified Teacher of great dignity and stature! When his devoted and faithful student -Srijan Pal Singh Who spent the last precious day and last minutes with Dr.Kalam Once, enquired of his wish to be known as - A President, Scientist, Writer, or the Author of ‘Wings of fire' A simple answer ‘ A teacher! ' Uttered with such humility - said it all! Born in a humble family in Rameshwaram The southern tip of India Where the Sun rises with a brilliant glow of orange hue And the sea gushes with its raging blue waves He grew up with a value for every rupee that he earned. To support his family he never shirked Even from becoming a newspaper boy! It was a long struggle to become a successful scientist Yet, he battled with every issue in life To rise up to the top with sheer perseverance. To become the eleventh President of India, A leader of great courage and indomitable spirit. Much loved by students from every part of the country, Highly respected by the teachers, scientists And people from all walks of life, He devoted his life for the cause of education. Lovable, affable, qualities that are rare to come by, With a benign smile Sensitive to the needs of the ordinary citizens, reflecting a heart of gold! As we bid goodbye to your mortal body, respected Sir, We express our gratitude for your great teachings Knowing that your spirit shall encircle and protect The community of teachers and students forever!