The first time I saw Abdul Kalam in person was when he inaugurated the free school built by JSS Mahavidyapeeth- A Hindu religious institution which owns my Alma Mater- JSS Medical College, Mysore- in 2002.
That in itself speak volumes of the kind of unsurpassed respect he commands across all of India without any barriers of politics, religion or politics of religion.
Before this visit I had only heard and read about the "Missile man of India" from the TV and newspapers. I was was in 1st year of my medical school. We were all supposed to attend the the inauguration but all of us went there happily to hear the great man talk. He spoke to all present there- school children to college professors- in his usual child like demeanor. He asked about 10-12 school children to ask him some question. He was very impressed by some deep questions.
One child asked him.
"What is the most dangerous weapon in the world"
He thought about it for a few seconds and replied,
"Ignorance"
I remember this like yesterday even though it happened nearly 13 years ago. He absolutely nailed it with just one word. This is the kind of impact he has on our consciousness. An unapologetic dreamer, inspiring grandfatheresque figure and an optimist who breathed positivism with every word that he spoke.
Why was he so universally loved and celebrated?
He removed all the useless fluff from the presidential office. He made the president more approachable. He actually lived the life of the first citizen in it's true essence. At the same time he elevated the office of the President from the ceremonial rubber stamp it was perceived to be before he took over. He gave the office purpose and a stand.
In a country bereft of visionary leaders he truly proved to be a leader. Among all the chaff we had a gem. Whether it was his India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium or his very famous lectures he was always a man thinking of how we can change rather than complain why we haven't. He put his point across with such an innocent charm that we were taken by him. A scientist- Statesman- Patriot that India badly needed at the time.
I've read his books Ignited minds and his autobiography- Wings of fire.
Very simple in the prose that it almost seems like a high school kid has written the books. But the ideas in the books were so powerful that it can shake the whole nation. He writes about his early struggles as a scientist in ADE, DRDO and finally in ISRO. How he overcame failures to finally make India a nuclear power to reckon with.
He taught us to dream despite our limited resources and assured us that only our dreams can take us forward and make us do more than we are now. I wrote a poem after reading his book- Wings of fire about dreams.
I do not want to list out his scientific contributions which are so well known already but would like to mention that he had a significant role to play to get the India-US nuclear deal pass the parliamentary test. Like a true patriot he managed to convince a populist leader like Mulayam Singh Yadav to support the deal, which finally went through.
He supported something very close to my heart: education. A boy, distributing newspapers in Rameshwaram eventually reaching the highest office in the country was only possible due to education and he understood that all too well. His love and dedication for children was fueled in no small measure by this basic understanding of his.
A lot of people become heroes after they die but here we had one while still alive and yet we couldn't have enough of him. I would end this eulogy for Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam with this quote he made us all repeat when he gave his speech 13 years ago. I still remember it like yesterday......
That in itself speak volumes of the kind of unsurpassed respect he commands across all of India without any barriers of politics, religion or politics of religion.
Before this visit I had only heard and read about the "Missile man of India" from the TV and newspapers. I was was in 1st year of my medical school. We were all supposed to attend the the inauguration but all of us went there happily to hear the great man talk. He spoke to all present there- school children to college professors- in his usual child like demeanor. He asked about 10-12 school children to ask him some question. He was very impressed by some deep questions.
One child asked him.
"What is the most dangerous weapon in the world"
He thought about it for a few seconds and replied,
"Ignorance"
I remember this like yesterday even though it happened nearly 13 years ago. He absolutely nailed it with just one word. This is the kind of impact he has on our consciousness. An unapologetic dreamer, inspiring grandfatheresque figure and an optimist who breathed positivism with every word that he spoke.
Why was he so universally loved and celebrated?
He removed all the useless fluff from the presidential office. He made the president more approachable. He actually lived the life of the first citizen in it's true essence. At the same time he elevated the office of the President from the ceremonial rubber stamp it was perceived to be before he took over. He gave the office purpose and a stand.
In a country bereft of visionary leaders he truly proved to be a leader. Among all the chaff we had a gem. Whether it was his India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium or his very famous lectures he was always a man thinking of how we can change rather than complain why we haven't. He put his point across with such an innocent charm that we were taken by him. A scientist- Statesman- Patriot that India badly needed at the time.
"A developed India by 2020, or even earlier, is not a dream. It need not be a mere vision in the minds of many Indians. It is a mission we can all take up - and succeed." -APJ Abdul Kalam
I've read his books Ignited minds and his autobiography- Wings of fire.
Very simple in the prose that it almost seems like a high school kid has written the books. But the ideas in the books were so powerful that it can shake the whole nation. He writes about his early struggles as a scientist in ADE, DRDO and finally in ISRO. How he overcame failures to finally make India a nuclear power to reckon with.
“Thinking is the capital, Enterprise is the way, Hard Work is the solution”
― A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India
“Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts. For they have their own thoughts.”
― A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Wings of Fire
He taught us to dream despite our limited resources and assured us that only our dreams can take us forward and make us do more than we are now. I wrote a poem after reading his book- Wings of fire about dreams.
I do not want to list out his scientific contributions which are so well known already but would like to mention that he had a significant role to play to get the India-US nuclear deal pass the parliamentary test. Like a true patriot he managed to convince a populist leader like Mulayam Singh Yadav to support the deal, which finally went through.
He supported something very close to my heart: education. A boy, distributing newspapers in Rameshwaram eventually reaching the highest office in the country was only possible due to education and he understood that all too well. His love and dedication for children was fueled in no small measure by this basic understanding of his.
"Black' Colour is Sentimentaly Bad". But "Every Black Board Makes The Students life Bright - A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
A lot of people become heroes after they die but here we had one while still alive and yet we couldn't have enough of him. I would end this eulogy for Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam with this quote he made us all repeat when he gave his speech 13 years ago. I still remember it like yesterday......
“Learning gives creativity
Creativity leads to thinking
Thinking provides knowledge
Knowledge makes you great.”
― A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
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