SPEECH BY HER EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SHRIMATI PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL, AT THE PRESENTATION OF BAL SHREE AWARDS

New Delhi, 10th June 2008

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to participate in the presentation of the Bal Shree Awards ceremony. I congratulate the young award winners on this occasion as well as National Bal Bhavan for making efforts to nurture the creative potential of children. I understand that the awards are being given in four streams of creativity - art, performance, scientific innovation and writing. The possibility of adding areas like photography, computer animation, social service among others, in which awards can be given, could be explored.

Children are by nature curious and inquisitive. As a person who loved children, Pandit Nehru was, forever, encouraging children to explore the world which he told them was full of beauty, charm and adventure. He felt that an innovative and pioneering spirit was necessary for the development of the nation. It was with this objective that in 1956 Pandit Nehru founded the National Bal Bhavan.

I am happy that the National Bal Bhavan has continued its work for over five decades by organizing various events that provide opportunities for children to interact and experiment. The Bhavan and its various Kendras serve as activity centres for children to experiment and learn new things. It instituted the National Bal Shree Awards in 1996, a step which has been useful in encouraging the young to come forward to convey their thoughts creatively through different media. I have come to know that children in large numbers are participating in the selection process of the Awards. What is also commendable is that the scheme provides a common platform and equal opportunity to the abled and differently-abled children for expressing their talent and getting recognition. I think children living in rural areas and those belonging to the disadvantaged sections should be given special coverage.

Creativity is often inherent in each child but remains dormant, until given opportunity and space for growth. It is the duty of the parents and teachers to channelise the energy of children towards activities that are useful, artistic and challenging. The minds of the children and their thinking faculties are sharpened by encouraging them to ask questions so that they understand basics of an issue well and can deal with problems. The child should have the ability to find solutions for day-to-day issues and transform every challenge into an opportunity.

Creativity is a very crucial human ability that allows an individual to think independently and to have power of imagination. Since I am talking to children, I will tell you a story of Emperor Akbar and Birbal which illustrates how a problem can be solved creatively. One day, Emperor Akbar asked Birbal to draw, within a week, a painting using his imagination, failing which he would be punished. Birbal was very worried as he had never painted in his life. But nevertheless after a week, Birbal came to the Court carrying a canvas on which he had painted the ground, the sky and a small patch of green. Emperor Akbar got very angry and asked what this painting was all about. Birbal replied that it was a cow eating grass. When Akbar asked where the cow and the grass were, Birbal replied that he had used his imagination - the cow had eaten the grass and returned to its shed. Such was the wit and imagination of Birbal!

I have seen that a questioning and an inquisitive mind, which wants to know why things are happening in a certain way, can often find an explanation for many of the mysteries of the world as also push the frontiers of knowledge further to explore new areas and make new discoveries. Apples had been falling on the ground since time immemorial. But it was an apple falling on Newton's head that triggered him to think why it was happening. Through his scientific investigation and work, the world understood the concepts of gravity and motion, which brought dramatic changes in the way we think and laid the foundation for modern engineering. Thereafter, the question asked was - what if there was no gravity? The answer led to scientists thinking about weightlessness which could occur in space, beyond the field of earth's gravitation. Einstein then came forward with the theory of relativity. Thus began the exploration of outer space. Then the question rose why only exploration of space, why not go to the Moon and other planets. This resulted in man landing on the Moon in 1969 and today, we have a spacecraft on Mars which is exploring the possibility of life on that Planet. I am telling you this, as one discovery leads to another and you children as the future generation, must be prepared to invent, create and innovate for contributing to this ever expanding wave of human understanding. Young children should look at issues, with inquiring minds and attempt to prepare for the future which will have its own challenges and opportunities. We are living in a knowledge based society, where technological advances everyday are shaping and changing the world. You are participants in this change and can determine its course. As Mahatma Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Your hands and minds would shape the future that awaits the world!

India is a land of creativity. Advanced human civilizations have flourished in it from ancient times. We have had, since very early days, eminent scientists and mathematicians like Aryabhatta and Brahmagupta; poets like Kalidas and Subramanya Bharathi; musicians like Tansen and Tyagaraja; grammarian Panini who is considered the founder of Linguistics as he put together the structure of the grammar of Sanskrit and Sushruta considered as the first surgeon in the world. Fresco paintings at Ajanta and Ellora, the Sanchi Stupa and the Ashoka Pillar all of which have been here for more than 2000 years. These achievements reflect the creative thinking and the hard work of our forefathers, of which we are the proud inheritors. It is this resourceful and entrepreneurial talent that our country needs today as it moves ahead to become a modern nation.

It is important that irrespective of the activity you choose in life - whether be it a doctor, scientist, artist, painter, photographer, administrator, engineer or whatever - you should follow the path of truth, tolerance, compassion and work for the success of the country and for the welfare of the mankind. Respect for moral, ethical and human values goes a long way to build the foundation of character of a person and that of a nation.

I once again congratulate all the Bal Shree awardees and the National Bal Bhavan for recognizing and igniting the creative spark in the new generation.

Thank you.

Jai Hind