2, 300 students stamp an indelible fingerprint

MADURAI: It's a fingerprint you just cannot miss. To emphasize on the importance of literacy, 2, 300 students from Madurai came together to form 'the largest human fingerprint' on Saturday on the ocassion of late President A P J Abdul Kalam's birth anniversary.
The event was organized by Rotary Club of Madurai Kings City and Mahatma Montessori School as part of 'Rotary India Literacy Mission' programme. Rotarians B Kalidasan and A Palanidas said that they had wanted to stress the importance of education and also try to enter the record book of records with the feat.
India's literacy rate stands at a mere 74 per cent and the aim of the Rotary India Literacy Mission is to reach 100 per cent, they said.The Rotary Club which played a crucial role in eradicating polio from the country has now taken up the initiative to ensure quality education for everyone.
The programme was conducted in co-ordination with the Kalasalingam University, where the students assembled to form the fingerprint. The feat was recorded by the India Book of Records which awarded a certificate to the organisers.
The organisers said that they have sent the video footage of the programme to Guinness World Records. A similar record was set by 300 Norwegian students a few years ago.
Meanwhile, 'bhoomi pooja' for the construction of a memorial for the late president was held on Saturday in Peikarumbu in Ramanthapuram district where he was laid to rest. A prayer session was held in presence of Kalam's brother Muthu Meera Maraikayar, DRDO officials and other dignitaries. Maraikayar handed over the first brick to the engineers.
The foundation stone for the memorial was laid on July 27, Kalam's first death anniversary, by DRDO officials. The memorial is expected to be completed by July 10 next year and opened to the public on his second death anniversary.