Setting high ideals and firmly believing in them leads to achievement. Helen Keller asserted that this belief is crucial for success.

When Dr. Abdul Kalam was the President of India, he engaged with students from the India Leadership 2020 movement.

In his usual question-and-answer style, Kalam asked the students about their aspirations. Amidst the responses, a blind ninth-grader named Srikanth boldly stated, "Sir, I want to become the President of the country. If my wish comes true, I will be recorded in history as the first blind President of India."

Kalam smiled, understanding Srikanth's unique ambition. "Aspire to achieve big goals like Srikanth; setting small goals is a crime," he said. "I hope your dream comes true someday. You have to work very hard for this," Kalam encouraged Srikanth.

Srikanth, born blind into a poor family in Masulipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, took Kalam's advice to heart. Despite his blindness, he excelled in various fields, including chess and cricket, becoming a national chess player and a state-level blind division cricketer.

He later applied to study engineering at MIT in Boston, USA. Impressed by his application, MIT admitted him without any fee. Voluntary and charitable organizations supported his education.

After completing his studies, General Electronics Company in the United States offered him a lucrative job. However, Srikanth returned to India, valuing ambition over salary.

He started a company producing recyclable packaging materials in a tin shed with eight workers and three small machines. Through his management skills and perseverance, the company grew into a major enterprise with a turnover of fifty crore rupees, employing 70% disabled workers. Srikanth is now a highly successful entrepreneur.

He used his education as a stepping stone to become a great entrepreneur and a confident speaker, serving as a role model for today's students.

Srikanth, confident in his abilities, tells them that he will achieve his presidential dream, inspired by Kalam. He exemplifies the spirit of overcoming challenges, proving that he is not disabled but capable of transforming many lives.

--Professor A. Mohammad Abdul Kader