New Delhi: When a polio-affected child strutting with a three kg artificial limb got a light-weight 300 gms caliper and she jumped with joy, that was the proudest moment of his life, says President A P J Abdul Kalam.

After the child received the Floor Reaction Orthosis (artificial limb) made with carbon fibre used in Defence equipment, it started jumping, running and riding a bicycle.

"Her parents shed tears of joy. I was in real bliss," said the 73-year-old architect of India's missile development programme in response to a query from Manjit Sehgal, a class ten student of St George College in Mussourie.

The President responds candidly to queries from children across the country ranging from politics, pressing problems confronting the country, science and technology and even personal ones.

He has opened a 'Children's Corner' in his website where youngsters can quiz him on anything under the Sun.

Behind every successful man there is a woman. You are still a bachelor. What is the secret of your successful career? was a poser from Jamia Milia scholar Shankar.

The man who rose from humble beginnings to occupy the country's highest office said, "I have come from a joint family having father, mother, sisters and the whole family and people of India are partners in my success."

Born on October 15, 1931 in Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam took over as India's 11th President on July 25, 2002.

A student from Aurangabad wanted to know how can India succeed in sports competitions like Olympics.

"We have to catch the sports persons young. Government can select 200 children with aptitude, adopt them and nurture them as aggressive players and make sports and games as their career," suggests Kalam.

He has also thrown up the idea of entrusting this task to the Army. "Army has a structured way of training. Army can be asked to create a sports brigade for selecting, nurturing and fielding sports persons for selected competitions."

On how to address the issue of ethics in Indian polity, a query put by B P Harish from Bangalore, he said the Lokpal Bill, which brings under its purview Prime Minister and MPs, would lead to a transparent healthy society. The measure is aimed at stopping corruption emanating in high offices.

A student from Visva Bharati University of West Bengal wondered if everyone was educated, who will perform so-called low and "menial" jobs.

"No job is menial or low. Education will enrich and enable you to perform the job better, faster and cheaper," the President responded.

What can be done to stop sale of spurious medicine? quizzed a youth from Chinmaya Vidyalaya in Chennai. "Those selling it were committing heinous crime," Kalam noted and added that a stronger law than the present one was on the anvil.

He said pharmaceutical companies were also trying to identify groups and persons who were indulging in this trade.

T Sreenath from J S S Pharmacy college in Ooty enquired about which phase in his life did the President cherish the most -- whether as a child, scientist or in his present post. Kalam's one liner was "as a teacher".

On being asked about the secret of his success, Kalam, who had an unparalleled career as an aerospace and Defence scientist, told Suttur-based Ishwariya, a 9th class student, "Sweat, sweat and sweat. When you work, you will definitely come across problems. Do not allow problems to become your master. You should become the master of the problem and succeed."