Saturday, January 15 2005 12:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Lucknow: "Is the Indian President a rubber stamp?" - the question put to President A P J Abdul Kalam by a girl during his visit to Rudahi village near Lucknow yesterday (Jan 14, 2005) surprised everyone.

The President refrained from a direct answer and instead said that he wanted "to bring smile on every face in the country" and "it should be a developed nation by 2020".

The next question to the "missile man" was even more thought provoking as one of the children asked if Kalam had developed a "missile" that could bring peace to the world.

"India has the biggest missile in the form of 'Ahinsa Parmo Dharma' (non violence is the supreme religion," Kalam said.

When asked about his views about poor children, the President said that the Government had prepared plans under which children between five and 14 years would be provided free education.

When asked as to why he entered politics, Kalam, himself a scientist who spearheaded the country's missile program, said that his "dream is to make India a developed nation" and he was doing that work as the President.

Did he dream to become the President in the childhood? asked another child. The President replied that when he was ten his teacher had told him how the birds flew and then he had thought of becoming a teacher.

He said that he received inspiration from the birds and set up his plans for the future.

On how to become a good citizen, the President said one could achieve it by hard work, study and defeating problems.