Hyderabad: They were Inspiration personified.clear cut ideas flowed from them to developscientists or great intellectuals. Just school children in their teens. But they were all kindled with the indomitable spirit of Dr. Abul Kalam to transform India into a developed nation.

Their self confidence and clearly articulated ideas were perhaps the best way the childrencould have greeted the great visionary on his 77th birthday. The programme organised bythe Lead India 2020 Foundation here on Wednesday brought out the latent talent among theschool children. It also showed the wonders a little training in the right direction would do.

All the children who underwent a five day training are from rural background studying in government schools. But the way they conducted themselves and expressed their views on making India a global leader showed their innate potential. In an interactive session with the dignitaries on the dais, the youngsters surprised everyone with their fluent speech and practical ideas to uplift the country.

Naveen, an eighth class student from Chittoor district, explained how physical science could be used to bring about the change in the society. G. Manankonda of Mahboobnagar district spoke about the value of time and how a second also mattered. Shivani of TTD school deplored gender discrimination and said girls could do as well as boys in education. An elderly woman, Kankamma, said her daughter, Lavanya, was teaching her and now she was able to write her name.

D. Purandeswari, Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development, and otherguests were all praise for the Lead India team on infusing confidence and ideas among theyouth.

In her speech, Ms. Purandeswari said youth were a big force and there was need tochannelise their talent in the right direction. It was important to equip them with moralvalues and global skills in this competitive world. Education was the panacea for allproblems, she said quoting Vivekananda.

M. Murali Mohan, president, Movie Artists Association, said the world was now looking to India as it had the brain power.

There was lot of talent among the youth. Only it should be identified and honed properly.

Mohd Ali Rafath, State Project Director, Rajiv Vidya Mission, said the biggest problem faced by the country was illiteracy. It was the duty of every citizen to banish it. He cautioned the youth about the forces trying to divide people in the name of religion and cast. P.Sudhakar Reddy, MLC, wanted the training programme for youth to be continued as it wasshowing good results.

N.B. Sudershan Acharya, national coordinator, Lead India 2020 Foundation, said Dr. Kalam was the role mode for all - right from a dreaming child to a visionary. The former President had called for a second national movement to transform the country into a developed nation. All schools and colleges in the State would be enrolled as units of the Lead India 2020 programme.