Bharat Ratna, Dr. Abdul Kalam, President of India, has, ever since his childhood, left a great impact in every field of life—be it education, social welfare, spiritual reflection, scientific invention, administrative capability or even holding the highest and most important post of President of India.
It is an auspicious sign of a golden future of India that the present President of India, ‘missile-man’, Dr. Abdul Kalam, is a person of outstanding personality, and is always prepared to listen to the plights of others and is simultaneously ready to solve their problems. His tour to Gujarat on 12th and 13th of August, 2002 is proof enough that he is always ready to stand by the suffering lot under all circumstances without even caring for protocol and his own safety. He went there and met the riot victims. He listened sympathetically to the plights of the refugees in the relief camps, and spoke for them what any sensitive person would. His soothing words became balm to their aching spirit, his mere touch of sympathy wiped their tears. He issued instructions to fulfil their requirements; and for this he broke the protocol many times.
Dr. Abdul Kalam keeps on top priority the requirements of the country which are of vital importance—
Development in the field of agriculture and schedule for supply of foodgrains—
At present, India has, with regard to foodgrains, not only become self-sufficient, but is also exporting foodgrains to foreign countries as per their requirement. But keeping in view the growing population of India, efforts will have to be made, developing scientific methods, to produce four thousand million tonnes of foodgrains every year. In addition to fulfilling the requirements of our own country; new and organized markets shall have to be searched for in foreign countries for making exports. Along with management of fruit and vegetables at a very large scale, godowns based on modern techniques shall also have to be made. Suitable arrangements shall have to be made for fertilizers and irrigation. Production of wheat shall have to be encouraged in the eastern zones of India. This is the age of green houses and horticulture. We shall have to contemplate this point also.
Production of electricity and management of power
In this country, with a population of more than one thousand million, where, by now, it has completed more than fifty years after attaining freedom, the rate at which industrialisation, mercantile, expansion of communication system, and electronics, have grown, the production of electricity has not been able to match with. Though, at the governmental level, the stress is being given on generation of solar power and its utilization, the supply of electricity to states, towns and villages, is insufficient. The number of sick industries is growing day by day. Electricity, now, is a necessity in every field of life. Crisis of electrical energy is giving rise to economic crises also.
around his wrist by girl students
At present India is generating approximatley 85000 megawatts of electricity. And a majority of states including the capital of India is undergoing major problems of electric power supply. There are various reasons behind it. Had there not been mismanagement at the governmental level, the situation of handing over the management of generation of electricity and its distribution to private sector would not have arisen. The government shall have to exploit its own resources for fulfilling the domestic, agricultural, industrial and governmental requirement of electricity. Or else, the fields of crops will remain dry and the human beings become helpless.
Education and health services
The thought that Dr. Abdul Kalam has rendered through the book ‘India Vision 2020’ or the vision he has had of realizing the dream of seeing all the children of the country to be well educated is also of vital importance for a developed country.
He feels that there should be proper roads in the rural areas also, he feels the necessity of schools having good standard of education, and his wish is that no one should remain uneducated. He believes that only good education can yield citizens with progressive ideas in the fields of trade and technology etc. Only such people will understand the importance of information technology and also the importance of freedom in true sense. And only then they shall be able to move with their heads high in the world. This country needs good teachers, good scientists, good engineers, good doctors, and good and brave soldiers. And all this is possible through good education only.
Information technology
The entire world is advancing on the path of progress and development. And nothing needs to be said about the developed countries in this connection.
Today the industries, products and software etc, connected with Information Technology, are of great importance. It is a matter of great pride for any nation to be self-sufficient in this technology. Today America has complete monoply in this field. But fortunately India, too, has enhanced its capability in this field during the last few years. This is a great source of economic development.
Dr. Kalam is of the view that in order to make India powerful and resourceful the software trade shall have to be explored and exploited at a much larger scale because it also helps earn foreign currency. Various services, like defence, scientific technology, engineering, and expansion of health services and education, depends very much on Information Technology today. It is of such importance that it must be supported at the governmental level also.
Tactical field
In the sphere of Dr. Abdul Kalam’s far-sigtedness, in addition to agriculture, education, electricity, and Information Technolgy, comes also tactical capability and self-sufficiency; and that, too, according to him, is just as important as is life for a human being. Owing to the inherited bitter experiences and seeing the temperament and tendencies of the neighbouring enemy, it is very necessary, in the present times, to become powerful in all respects.
The present period is a period of satellites. And so, in addition to the satellites and capability in the field of space research technology, we need aerodynamic technology, tanks, artillery, various kinds of guns based on latest technology, missiles, anti-tank devices—and all this not so much for tactical power and capability and security, but for strengthening India by encouraging its production and export to other countries. Defence research technique, too, shall have to be encouraged. Departmental constraints shall have to be removed for achieving these targets. Adopting the system of proper funding on these accounts, and bringing an end to the practice of red tape, the government shall have to expedite the developmental policies.
In addition to capabilities, the importance of mental harmony, too, shall have to be stressed upon. In order to make the coming era favourable, it will be necessary to give special importance to management and economic development, because the developed countries often bully us by imposing sanctions on India with regard to supply of tactical devices, or they sell us old and less effective materials for a price with which devices of latest technology could be bought. And they do it in a very clever manner.
Doing all this is necessary if the poverty of this great country is to be eradicated. Though India has attained sufficient capability in the fields of space, nuclear science and defence technology, but, as is necessary, we shall have to enhance our capabilities so that no enemy is able to threaten us.
Minerals in India
India is a great storehouse of ores and minerals. Based on the modern techniques, geological surveys, at a very large scale, shall have to be materialized. In order to fulfil the requirements of space, tactical and research-based necessities, Dr. Kalam has not only encouraged the scientists for the development of ores and minerals, he also has declared it necessary to have a firm determination to keep working on it continuously.
The capability that India has attained in connection with space research technology and rocket and missile technology, as a result of Dr. Kalam’s genius, has taken the most powerful countries like America and Russia by surprise.
Pakistan, which acts affectedly owing to the help and support given by some foreign countries, too, is in a fix now.
Whenever someone tried to mention that India is a country of Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Buddha who believed in non-violence, and questioned as to why such a country needs missiles and atom bombs, the quick answer of Dr. Kalam has been—‘are we expected to lead an ascetic life when our enemy is sitting all prepared to launch an attack on us?’ A weak person’s religion and life has no meaning. It is one’s own power and capability which makes a difference.
Great thoughts
‘All your feelings and thoughts should be sacred. Where there is truth, there is prosperity. Where there is true piety, there is opulence. Where there is kindness and mercy there is progress. Where there is amiability, there is development. If you wish development of others, prosperity will come to you automatically. Prosperity does not mean that you will become a millionaire, it only means that you will have everything of (genuine) requirement. You will never be in a state of distress. God will take care of you and fulfill all your (genuine) requirements.
Swami Chidananda Saraswati—courtesy Harikatha
It is specially worth mentioning here that Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is determined to lead this country to that new era of development through his thoughts, speech and deeds, which is very much required today and shall be required in the future also.
Maranam Prakrutih Shareerinam Vikritir Jeevan Suchyate Budheh
Kshana Mapyava Tishthate Swasanyadi Janturnanulabhavanasau
(Kalidas—Raghuvansham)
The body is a place of residence which is not permanent. Its death is inevitable. Every living being has to die one day. And so, its death is not a matter of surprise; what is surprising is that it lives. If a person lives even for a moment, he should, considering himself extremely fortunate, continue to give meaning to his life by dwelling in high thoughts and behaving piously.
(courtesy—Harikatha)