Your desires will come true: Kalam - <b>Video</b>

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The youth of the nation was the abiding theme of outgoing President A P J Abdul Kalam's farewell address in which he exhorted them to propel India towards the status of a developed nation by 2020.

"When you wish upon a star, Makes no difference who you are, Anything your heart desires, will come true...", Kalam said in his farewell address to the nation.

"This poem is true for all of us, and particularly for our youth and if they aim great, I am sure they will reach close to the target or the target," Kalam said.

This popular song written by American pop lyricist Ned Washington and composed by Leigh Harline was introduced in the 1940 Walt Disney movie Pinocchio, where it is sung by Cliff Edwards in the character of Jiminy Cricket, a fictional character who is appointed to serve as the official conscience for Pinocchio. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song that year, and became a theme song for the Disney company, used in the opening sequences of Disney anthology television series and in Walt Disney Pictures' opening logos.

The American Film Institute ranked it seventh in their 100 Greatest Songs in Film History, the highest ranked Disney song.

Kalam cautioned that in the pursuit of economic growth, care needs to do be taken for preserving the rich and diverse treasure of the culture and civilisation of the country.

"It is our duty for our future generations. This has to be done on a much larger scale through countrywide participation of multiple institutions," he said.

In his earlier speeches, he has contended that economic growth rate should be measured against poor becoming prosperous.

He has come out with a National Prosperity Index (NPI) whose three components were -- annual growth rate of GDP; improvement in quality of life of the people, particularly those living below the poverty line plus and the adoption of a value system derived from the civilisational heritage in every walk of life which is unique to India.

Kalam, in his last speech as President brought out various experiences, and asked people to take resolve to work for realising the missions of developed India 2020.

The missile-man, whose popularity earned him a reputation of being the people's president, highlighted that eradication of poverty should be addressed to and envisaged a society free of illiteracy, crimes against women and children and no one felt alienated as important elements in taking India in the category of developed nations.

Stressing on a sustainable growth path for a prosperous, healthy, secure, peaceful and happy country, he said developed nation should be a best destination for the most talented scholars, scientists and investors.

The developed nation, according to Kalam, should also include ensuring health care to all, education with value system to the meritorious candidates irrespective of societal or economic stature and where agriculture, industry and service sector work together in symphony.

Sharing his experiences during his travel within the country and abroad, Kalam said empowering of over six lakh villages for development in the country and establishing nearly 7000 Providing Urban amenities in Rural Area (PURA) centres across the country would help in bridging the rural and urban divide.

Kalam, as the Supreme Commander of Armed Forces of the country, did not forget to mention about the forces in his farewell address. "Our defence forces are on a beautiful mission. When the nation sleeps during night, members of our defence teams are awake to guard us and remain vigilant to counter any threats."

Being the first Head of the State to undertake ardours defence adventures, Kalam recalled his visits to "Kumar Point" at Siachen Glacier, underwater journey in Sindhurakshak submarine and taking a flight in Sukhoi-30 fighter jet. "In these three experiences, I personally felt proud of our ever vigilant soldiers, sailors and air warriors performing their task beyond the call of their duty even in the most adverse circumstances -- natural or man made."

Kalam did not forget to mention the $100-million pan-African E-Network Project, designed to help bridge the digital divide in Africa, a project considered as his brain child that was cleared by the Union Cabinet earlier this month as a parting gift.