Namaskar
to all, I am back with one more interesting & eye opening interview of Dr.
A.P.J.Abdulkalam.Please read the excerpts.For detailed interview go to link given
below,enjoy…
‘A Nation Without A Vision Dies’
INTERVIEW Former
President of India APJ Abdul Kalam whose book of memoirs has just been launched on why the
state of our democracy is our responsibility
Former President of
India APJ Abdul Kalam, who has authored several books, has come out with a
deeply personal, readable and pocket-sized book of memoirs, My Journey:
Transforming Dreams into Action (Rupa). Dedicated to “the sixteen million youth I have met
and interacted with in the last two decades,” the book relates his life story
that began in Rameswaram, a temple town on the Tamil Nadu coast. Every chapter
contains a lesson. He relates, for example, how his father, who was the imam of
the mosque at Rameswaram, conferred with his friends — the priest of the temple
and of the local church — to thwart communal feelings before they got out of
hand. He affectionately recalls his mentors, ranging from his parents and
cousins to the eminent scientist Vikram Sarabhai. In the process, a moving
portrait of a boy burning with zeal to learn emerges. The simplicity of the
small-town boy is overwhelmingly apparent in Dr. Kalam, who made the transition
from first citizen to ordinary Indian without a hiccup. Edited
excerpts from an interview:
Today,
greatness is largely measured by material wealth, and this in turn brings about
discontent in society. Do you feel there is a need for us to shun materialism
as your father and elders did?
I studied till High
School in British India. In 1947, we got freedom and I started living in
India’s India. I have seen various transformations in society, be it the
economy or the value system. While our economy is developing, we need citizens
with ethics and a value system. For the last 10 years I’ve been promoting an
idea called Evolution of Enlightened Citizens. It has three dimensions. One is
education with value system. This comes from the family, or may be from a
primary school teacher. After all, the evolution of enlightened citizens is
essential for India and the world. Second, comes economic prosperity. Third,
religion should transform into a spiritual force. I advocate these three (www.abdulkalam.com).
I have given lectures
in our Parliament, addressed the European parliament of 23 nations, a
pan-African parliament of 53 nations, and the Korean parliament. I am not
saying the Indian value system should be taken to other countries. They also
have great leaders and traditions based on their value system. I believe
that one’s value system, the joint family system, economic growth and different
religions transforming into a spiritual force are vital. That’s why I have
shared this at various interactive forums.
Your work
gives pre-eminence to inspiring and changing the thought pattern of the youth.
However, as we see the country deluged with problems such as hunger, disease, a
deteriorating environment and unfit living conditions, how long will it take to
see change, or is it already visible ?
Thought is the seed
of action. Thought is as ancient as Socrates. Tiruvalluvar, 2,200 years ago,
has also said that… That’s why I proposed in Parliament that we need India
Vision 2020. That is, by 2020, India should become economically developed. Even
now, it’s not too late. Parliament should consider how it can activate the
vision for the nation, so prosperity can be aimed at. Our priority should be to
use PURA – ‘providing urban amenities in rural areas’. Our farmers are
producing 250 million tonnes of food. But we don’t do value addition, which
means greater export potential. We are leading producers of fruits and
vegetables but we don’t process these as juice or packaged food. And third, of
course, small scale industries which are spread across the country.
Are you in
touch with the PURA projects, and these are showing results?
I have
seen in Madhya Pradesh, the Chitrakoot PURA founded by Nanaji
Deshmukh. He is a pioneer and they are doing very well, more than 500
villages are connected, and there is prosperity. Another one I saw in Maharashtra,
Warana PURA. There is no poverty there, because the cooperative movement is
doing very well. And the third I have seen in Tamil Nadu at Vallam, Thanjavur.
I am in touch with
these three, and visit them often. But apart from that, the Government of India
has started a few PURAs with public-private participation. The number of PURAs
is increasing. But it has to be fast. After all, there are 600,000 villages; we
have to establish 7000 PURAs in 10-15 years’ time. We have less than 100.
What is the
status of the Youth Brigade which exhorts young people to stand up even to
their parents if they indulge in corrupt practices, and the “What Can I Give”
mission?
Many schools and
colleges have started ‘What Can I Give’ missions. It is not a structured program,
we don’t want one; it will not grow. It is the responsibility of each
institution to start a program and promote reform within their institution.
Then we started what is called Happy Home which has four components:
spirituality, mother’s happiness, transparency, and a green and clean
environment. The youth have taken an oath that they will live in a house free
from corruption.
Your
writing reflects great contentment, yet this never stops you from action.
God helps
only those who work hard.
There is nothing like contentment. Success is not the ultimate aim.
However, at no time
should you allow your problems to overwhelm you. I can’t say that I am content,
because I meet 80,000 to 100,000 youth a month. I know their dreams, their
pain. A nation without a vision dies. Parliament has to give this
vision.
ANJANA RAJAN
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