A book that reflects philosophy of the great personality called Kalam
It is uncanny that a book authored by Dr. Abdul Kalam (with Arun Tiwari)
was released in Chennai on Saturday last. 'Transcendence, My Spiritual
Experiences With Paramukh Swamiji' captures the philosophy of this
extraordinary man, who had a great vision for India and worked
tirelessly for it. In his introduction, the former president recalls how
his house in Rameswaram would resonate with the healthy debate that
went on among three persons - his father Jainulabdeen, an imam in the
mosque, Pakshi Lakhmana Sastrigal, Vedic scholar and head priest of the
famous Rameswaram temple and Rev.Fr. Bodal, who built the first church
on the island. As a ten-year-old boy, Kalam had learnt secularism, in
its true sense. "Now throughout the nation and the world, the need for
such frank and genial dialogue among cultures, religions and
civilizations is more urgent than ever," he observes. He dedicates the
book to all the righteous people of the world, wherever they are.
Dr. Kalam meets Pramukh Swami for the first time in 2001 and seeds are
sown for a fruitful guru-disciple relationship. Dr. Kalam asks the
swami: How do we transform a developing country into a developed one
within the next 30 years? We have identified five important areas -
eucation, healthcare, communication, infrastructure and critical
technology. The swamiji says: "Add one more - faith in God and
developing people through spirituality." Dr. Kalam describes the moment
as Divine Presence. What Swami Pramukh said subsequently had a great
impact on the scientist, who took it up as a mission: "Go and channel
the minds of youths all over the world. Lead India."
He was called upon to do exactly that, on June 10, 2002. Through a
telephone call, the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, expressed
his wish that Dr. Kalam should be President. By evening the candidature
was confirmed and the rest is history. In the book, Dr. Kalam reflects
upon the unexpected events and blessings that came into his life. Hours
of pain as first an earthquake and then riots ravaged Gujarat that were
overcome through grit and faith. Akshardam, the temple of love and peace
that Swami Pramukh raised became a symbol of hope. He marvels at the
swamiji's equanimity when the place was attacked by terrorists. You can
drive out hate only with love and not hate, he learnt. A belief he found
in Nelson Mandela, whom he met much later.
The concluding words echo the tenor of the 220-page account of Dr.
Kalam's spiritual saga: "All of us - bright atheists and committed
religionists - need to awaken now and hear the earth's call... the only
thing that will redeem humankind is cooperation. Let us make our planet
more liveable! A strong message, looking back his last, from a man, who
only thought of the country's progress, who cherished the youth as the
hope of the future!
(The book has been released by Harper element)
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