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I'm Anna University prof, not ex-President: Kalam

Last updated on: July 26, 2007 16:02 IST

Former President A P J Abdul Kalam, who returned to teaching, a day after demitting office, on Thursday announced that he had five assignments on hand and that his mission will be to remain with the people.

Talking to media persons after addressing the professors and research faculties of Anna University, the country's premier technical institution, Kalam said, "My mission is to be with the people and I will be with the people."

Dr Kalam's penchant for teaching was evident, as he insisted that the media, henceforth address him as 'professor of Anna University' and not as former President.

Disclosing his future plans, Kalam said he will be donning five caps in his post-President period.

This included teaching in Nalanda University in Bihar, taking up chancellorship of the upcoming Space Research Institute in Thiruvananthapuram, professorship in Anna University, teaching in Gandhigram Rural University in Dindigul and being a visiting professor at IIT-Hyderabad.

Formally

resuming his career as Professor of Anna University on Thursday, Kalam exhorted the faculty to pay immediate attention on ten important areas, which included accurate prediction of earthquake and rainfall.

He also wanted them to change the teaching pattern, by using the latest developments in science and technology.

On holding the highest office of the country for the past five years, Kalam said, "I wanted to see every individual as a self confident person and the entire nation self confident."

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