Creative leaders needed for India's development: Kalam

Speaking at the birth centenary celebrations of scientist Brahm Prakash at the Mishra Dhatu Nigam Ltd here, he said, "For success in all your missions you have to become creative leaders.

"Creative leadership means exercising the vision to change the traditional role from the commander to the coach, manager to mentor, from director to delegator and from one who demands respect to one who facilitates self-respect. For a prosperous and developed India, the important thrust will be on the generation of a number of creative leaders from our educational institution."

Recalling his association with Brahm Prakash, Kalam said that he was a great technologist and a pioneer in nuclear fuel, who was instrumental taking the decision to go for maraging steel instead of 15 CDV-6 for space launch vehicles.

He said futuristic materials would emerge from convergence of biotechnology, infotech and nanotechnology, leading towards eco tech, culminating into nano and DNA robotics. He urged scientists and technologists to create a country where all these technologies ultimately reach the common man.

Speaking at the annual national conference of the National HRD Network earlier, Kalam said efforts should be made to improve India's ranking in Human Development Index (HDI) from the present 134 among 187 nations to be among the top 20 countries.

"Of course, to reach higher performance in ranking of HDI, we need innovation, excellence and above all, creative leadership in human resource development," he said.