Some people might be grudging APJ Abdul Kalam for often going soft on hardliner Hindutva or that he subjected himself to be 'used' as an icon to correct BJP's anti-Muslim image post-Godhra mayhem.
But it could be travesty of truth and gross injustice to the Late former President as often he spoke out his mind and even in 2002 itself within days he took over as the President, Kalam visited riot-hit Naroda Patiya and had said in no unambiguous words:
"The grievances poured forth by the affected people (READ riot-scarred minorities) to me... should
merit immediate attention of those concerned and actions taken with
alacrity".
A 'people’s President'
that he was, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, would be best remembered in this
multi-religious and multi-lingual nation as a great unifier. He was truly a champion of inter-religion faiths and struck
the right balance as a man of science with a political system that by the start
of the new millennium in India was getting extremely polarized and communal.
He kept up his commitment to religious harmony even after laying down office. “When nations join
together to build a cohesive society, it is necessary to ensure that benefits
of development encompass all sections of the society…..Both India and European
Union have witnessed and are witnessing the unsavory acts of certain misguided
sections of society. We have to jointly address ourselves to the root causes of
such phenomena for finding lasting solutions for promoting peace,” he had said
addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, during the golden
jubilee of the European Union in 2007.
The speech, many still
remember, as a true reflection of Kalam’s faith in his ideological moorings
would be one of the most memorable ones.
Those who have seen
him work first as a respected missile scientist at India's state-run Defence
Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and one of the key hands behind
successful nuclear tests of Pokhran in desert state Rajasthan in 1998, also
know him as a great admirer of Mahatma Gandhi, the peace apostle and India’s
Father of the Nation. Kalam in his public
speeches and interactions with students would often quote the Mahatma (Great
Soul Gandhi) and would say, “Be fearless, speak from your heart, speak for your
rights”.
On another occasion
and as late as April 11, 2015, Kalam said at a Navy Foundation Kolkata Charter
function, “People in India will have to learn not only to respect but also
celebrate differences in culture, religion and race”.
"There has to be
tolerance for other people's opinions, beliefs and culture. Everybody from political leaders to administrators, the police, the defence
forces and the media will have to learn to regulate themselves in accordance to
rules laid down by the Constitution,” he had said.
These utterances were
considered much bold and apt commentary on the state of affairs in the country
when the socio-political atmosphere looked polarized following number of
incidents wherein either Christian minorities faced the threat of re-conversion
or some minority religious places were under attack.
In retrospect Kalam
took over as the 11th President of India under the cloud of 2002 anti-Muslim
mayhem of Gujarat. While a debate could linger whether Kalam, a Muslim himself
who openly admired ancient Hindu teachings, would have made it to the highest
office in the country had there been no 2002 riots directed generally against
Muslims, it is worth recall that as President, Kalam’s first tour outside
national capital New Delhi – was Naendra Modi-ruled Gujarat.
He visited Bhuj where
a major earthquake had taken place in 2001 and also worst riot-hit Naroda
Patiya in Ahmedabad’s suburbs where he went around riot-scarred minority
households and Noorani Masjid locality.
During a brisk 30-minute walk around
the locality in the company of Chief Minister Narendra Modi, victims of the
violence complained to the President that there had been 'gross negligence' of
the area during and after the violence.
Moved by the plight of the victims,
the President told District Collector K Srinivasan that everything possible
should be done to make the battered victims feel safe and secure. Reflecting his special concern for
children, an anguished Kalam told Srinivasan to ensure that children in the
affected areas are immediately put in schools.
 |
| Vajpayee making the famous 'with which face I will go abroad' |
Kalam also had said,
"Having seen all this and appreciating them against the background of the
rich traditions of Gujarat, I am convinced and my faith is reinforced that the
nation urgently needs an intensified movement to eliminate totally communal and
other forms of strife and bring about unity of minds and total integration of
our vision and goals."
One of the most
distinguished scientists of India with the unique honour of receiving honorary
doctorates from 30 universities and institutions, he was awarded the Bharat
Ratna, India’s highest civilian award in 1997.
Even his critics,
though he had a few, would admit, he had ideas on how to solve India's problems
- on bridging the rural-urban divide through his pet concept "Providing
Urban amenities in Rural Areas - for empowering villages, and also to use solar
power in a big way to tide over energy needs.
 |
| Igniting Minds |
Author of widely read books like
'Wings of Fire' and 'Ignited Minds', Kalam was also a champion
of the cause of digital India and always urged governments and citizens to
attain self-sufficiency in "critical technology", agriculture, health and education.
Better known to
commoners in the country for his right synthesis between modern science and
ancient oriental teachings, his admirer would certainly love to remember him as
a Karma-yogi (ancient Indian word for a workaholic) and someone who carried on
with him the Indian faith of Rishi-parampara (the tradition of renunciation and
service of nation).
Though his smiles and
simplicity touched Indians, Dr Kalam also used his charm in a few major
diplomatic events.
First Indian President
to visit military ruled Myanmar in 2006, he floored Myanmar’s head of military
junta Senior General Than Swe. Kalam, who had done his homework pretty well
about Myanmar, had asked the General, “How is your daughter?”.
The reference
was to pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was still behind bars and
Kalam had read that once General Than Swe had called Suu Kyi as his ‘daughter’.
Emerging from his
child like exterior persona, Kalam had told Myanmar government, about India’s
keenness for restoration of democracy in Myanmar.
In the ultimate, why
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam would remain so endeared to his countrymen? Why people are
lost in a national craze over social networking sites talking about a former
President in a country where Presidentship is not only a constitutional post
but largely also seen as a decorative one? It must be some decades now that
since second president of India, Dr S Radhakrishnan, Kalam's popularity has reached
this height.
Well, one reason for
this is chiefly because APJ Abdul Kalam gave India a pride in his own right – a
successful scientist, an honest and a low profile and humble man. He could spot
a known face among hundreds and would ask a woman journalist in Mumbai, my good friend Dr Lalitha Vaidyanathan, a well known Science Repoter with PTI then, :"why
your bindi is so big”.
Second and perhaps more important was his identification
with the national ethos that no Indian could overlook. At a time when the
ruling political class do not hesitate to scream that the majority Hindus in
the country are often forced to "assume the offensive as a means of
self-defence", it’s Kalam’s unique charm that they too found a
Muslim scientist as an acceptable face and a true patriot. (ends)
 |
| The power of Bhagwad Gita always enchanted Kalam |
No comments:
Post a Comment