We have completed one full orbit around the Sun since the light of Dr Kalam left us. The missile man, the People’s President and the symbol of how humble beginnings can still translate into the realisation of the highest dreams; now exists only in the thoughts of millions of admirers.
Today it is time to think what India would have Kalam wanted to see if he was with us. Dr Kalam always envisioned an India, which was “economically developed” and where GDP growth also meant equity of opportunity. His mantra for this mission was the empowerment of 750 million citizens in 600,000 villages of India – where he wanted a sustainable model of PURA to be implemented.
None struck a chord better with him than the youth of the nation – in his words, “that the ignited mind of the youth is the most powerful resource on the earth, above the earth and under the earth”. He believed that “education with value system” is the key to chisel the youth into citizens the 21st century India needs. For this he believed in the effectiveness of the triad of father, mother in the home and primary school teacher in the school.
Dr Kalam would have liked to see India, which has tolerance for all its diversities. He wanted an India where all the religions are connected by the bridge of spirituality and not separated by the islands of theologies. He always urged that the citizens need to follow a motto of “What Can I Give,” which he believed was the key to happiness and growth. Dr Kalam followed a policy of suggesting alternatives, and not merely criticise and his message to the media was to spread happy news and hope. He had a mission for everyone. He wanted the doctor to avoid inducing diagnostic pain. He wanted the teachers to elevate not only the front row but also for the last benchers. His message to the farmers was to empower themselves with technology and explore markets. He wanted the politicians to focus on, in his words “70 % in developmental politics and less than 30% in political politics.” He wanted the youth to have big dreams, he thought of calling small aim a crime. His ideal government official was the one who “worked with integrity and succeeded with integrity.”
As a person, Dr Kalam was a saintly scientist. He shaped his character from all that every religion could teach and his actions were guided with the most impeccable scientific temper. He delved into the mind of the audience, empathised with everyone he met – and that became the reason why he could connect with hearts and not just mind. To be the quality, which separated him from the rest, was a perennial humility, which was visible in his professional life and even more pronounced in his personal life. His sense of gratefulness was all encompassing, even to the 110-year-old tree in the front lawn – which he called Arjuna and often introduced as a “life giving friend.”
How do we remember Dr Kalam today? Yes, build magnificent monuments in stones, but more importantly edifice of positive thoughts and actions of integrity. It is to do good within your own realm of influence with what Dr Kalam defined as Righteousness in the Heart, as,
“When there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character,
Where there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home.
When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation,
When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.”
On this day, we need to remember his final lecture, whose title was ‘Creating a Livable Planet Earth’. And perhaps take a leaf out of that last message and do our bit in making the planet a life giving place. The best way to remember Dr Kalam is indeed to strive to be a Kalam ourselves.
(The writer was Officer on Special Duty to Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and accompanied him during his trip to Shillong on July 27, 2015 where he breathed his last)
