Bhubaneswar, Jan 25 (IANS): Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Saturday underlined the importance of value-based education and called on parents and teachers to inculcate a moral sensibility in children.

“We have seen that the seeds of peace in the world have their origin in the righteousness in the heart of every individual. Such righteous citizens lead to the evolution of enlightened society,” Kalam said, addressing a gathering in the Odisha capital Bhubaneswar on the occasion of the birth centenary of Swami Chidananda Saraswati Maharaj, a disciple of Swami Sivananda, founder of The Divine Life Society.

Kalam said: “Education with values must be so designed that the righteousness in the heart is developed in young minds. That should be the mission of education. The prime learning environment is five to 17 years of age,” he said.

Citing an ancient Greek teacher who said, "Give me a child for seven years; afterwards, let God or the devil take the child. They cannot change the child,” Kalam said: “This indicates the power of great teachers and what good teachers can inculcate in young minds.”

“Parents and teachers must inculcate moral leadership in children. It requires the ability to have insights into the uniqueness and universality of human consciousness. True education is the acquisition of enlightened feelings and enlightened powers to understand daily events and to understand the permanent truth linking man to his environment, human and planetary,” he said.