We will be remembered only if we give to our younger generation a prosperous and safe India, resulting out of economic prosperity coupled with civilizational heritage.

One of the more difficult tasks for me as president was to decide on the issue of confirming capital punishment awarded by courts… to my surprise… almost all cases which were pending had a social and economic bias.

For success of any mission, it is necessary to have creative leadership. Creative leadership is vital for government, non-governmental organisations as well as for industries.

When I took over as president, I studied the Constitution, and the more I studied it, the more I realised that it does not prevent the president of India from giving the nation a vision. So when I went and presented this vision in Parliament and in legislative assemblies; everyone welcomed it, irrespective of party affiliations.

Writing is my love. If you love something, you find a lot of time. I write for two hours a day, usually starting at midnight; at times, I start at 11.

God is everywhere.

My hair grows and grows; you cannot stop it – that fellow grows, it grows wild.

Educationists should build the capacities of the spirit of inquiry, creativity, entrepreneurial and moral leadership among students and become their role model.

Regarding marriage, it – somehow, it didn’t happen. One fellow in such a big family not getting married is not an issue.

Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things? Is it a legacy of our colonial years? We want foreign television sets. We want foreign shirts. We want foreign technology. Why this obsession with everything imported?

The world has today 546 nuclear plants generating electricity. Their experience is being continuously researched, and feedback should be provided to all. Nuclear scientists have to interact with the people of the nation, and academic institutions continuously update nuclear power generation technology and safety.

India has to be transformed into a developed nation, a prosperous nation and a healthy nation, with a value system.

Creativity is the key to success in the future, and primary education is where teachers can bring creativity in children at that level.

I was a disadvantaged child from a non-educated family, yet I had the advantage of being in the company of great teachers.

India can live without nuclear weapons. That’s our dream, and it should be the dream of the U.S. also.

The youth need to be enabled to become job generators from job seekers.

One of the very important characteristics of a student is to question. Let the students ask questions.

Ultimately, education in its real sense is the pursuit of truth. It is an endless journey through knowledge and enlightenment.

When we tackle obstacles, we find hidden reserves of courage and resilience we did not know we had. And it is only when we are faced with failure do we realise that these resources were always there within us. We only need to find them and move on with our lives.

Economy forced me to become a vegetarian, but I finally starting liking it.