Kalam to be on radio on R-Day

NEW DELHI: With a penchant for setting trend, President A P J Abdul Kalam has chosen to ride on the popularity of FM radio to give a message to the countrymen on the 58th Republic Day.

Kalam, also known as People's President, has recorded a brief message for private FM radio station 'Radio Mirchi' to spread his message to the countrymen.

In his message, which was recorded in the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday night, the President has asked people to contribute and make India a developed nation, official sources said.

Kalam also exhorted the youth to help build technologically advanced India.

The message, which was recorded at the request of the Radio channel, will be broadcast on the morning of January 26.

Besides the national capital, Radio Mirchi is aired in metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore and in cities like Pune, Indore, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Jaipur.

The sources said since its popularity had grown manifolds over the years, the President, who would also be recording his last customary Republic Day message of his present tenure on Thursday for Doordarshan and All India Radio, accepted the proposal.