Newswise — India's former president, the honorable A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, will visit the University of Kentucky March 23-25. During the esteemed leader's historic visit to the Bluegrass, Kalam will take part in several programs and events open to the general public presented on the university campus.
"UK is excited to welcome Dr. Kalam to the university and our community is looking forward to his talks," said President Lee T. Todd Jr. "It's an honor for his Excellency to visit, as it symbolizes the importance Kalam places on education," Todd added.
Provost Kumble R. Subbaswamy was equally enthusiastic about Kalam's upcoming visit. "We hope and believe that his visit will enhance our current partnerships with the Indian community in Kentucky and abroad, and encourage new collaborations involving student and faculty exchanges."
Kalam's first visit to UK and the city of Lexington is being presented in conjunction with the current art exhibition "Miniature Worlds: Art from India" on display at the UK Art Museum, which was made possible in large part due to the support of the Bluegrass Indo-American Civic Society.
His visit to UK includes three public programs where Kalam will discuss topics ranging from India's economy to education presented by the UK Art Museum, UK Gatton College of Business and Economics and the UK Office of the Provost. A fourth question and answer session with Kalam will be presented for area college students by the UK Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce.
During his stay, his Excellency plans to also visit The Arboretum and Kentucky Children's Hospital, as well as attend a dinner in his honor presented by the community.
Kalam, who served India as president from 2002-2007, was responsible for several advancements in promoting the nation's development and is considered a leader in India's quest to become a fully developed nation by 2020. The former president has demonstrated great dedication to students, whom he feels are essential in helping him achieve his vision for India's future. Kalam hopes to lead the country toward a strong knowledge-based economy through his Technology Vision 2020 plan, which serves as a road map for India in its quest to move up in status to a developed nation.
Known for his expertise as a rocket propulsion scientist, Kalam served as the project director for the program that developed India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle. The project led to the launch of the Rohini satellite in July 1980, allowing India to join the ranks as a member of the international space club. His work as a scientific adviser to the nation's defense minister and secretary, as part of Indian Department of Defense Research and Development from 1992 to 1999, led to the development of highly advanced strategic missile systems in India.
Kalam is the author of four popular Indian books, "Wings of Fire," "India 2020-A Vision for the New Millennium," "My Journey and Ignited Minds - Unleashing the Power within India" and "Guiding Souls: Dialogues on the Purpose of Life."
His Excellency has also been recognized by his nation and numerous institutions worldwide. Kalam is the recipient of his nation's highest civilian honors including the Padma Bhushan, the Padma Vibhushan and the Bharat Ratna. He has also been recognized with more than 30 doctorates from universities and other institutions celebrating his contributions to his field and his dedication to excellence in education.
UK actively promotes Indian culture on campus through an academic minor offered by the College of Arts and Sciences, numerous cultural events on campus and via student exchange programs. Likewise, UK actively recruits students from India, as well as other international communities. In 2006, UK saw 464 Indian students enroll at the university.
"UK continues to promote the university's visibility worldwide. Our goal is to not only draw the best and brightest students from abroad, but also enhance the global preparedness and multicultural awareness of all Kentucky students," said Susan Carvalho, assistant provost for international programs. "These combined efforts across the curriculum, through co-curricular programming, through education abroad and through the recruitment of international students, make graduates of UK more competitive professionals in today's global economy."
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