When Rediff.com requested former President A P J Abdul Kalam to compose a Republic Day message for their readers, he promptly sent them this piece, which they were honoured to publish:
Dear friends, let me share with you a seven-point resolve on the occasion of ensuing Republic Day 2008:
1. Wherever I am, a thought will always come to my mind — *What can I give?*
2. Whatever the mission I will do, my motto will be *to work with integrity and succeed with integrity.*
3. I will always remember that *my winged days, be not spent in vain*.
4. I realise I have to set a great goal that will *lead me to think high*, work and realise the goal.
5. My greatest friends will be *great human beings, great teachers and great books*.
6. I will firmly believe that no problem can defeat me; *I will become the captain of the problem, defeat the problem and succeed.*
7. My National Flag flies in my heart and I will bring glory to my nation.