A Kalam Speech

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam does it again… what he always does best ! Read out his below speech of last month..hats off to this man..we want men like him to be our CM, PM & President!!..but more importantly, citizens like him.



Dr. Abdul Kalam's ‪#‎Letter‬ to Every Indian


Why is the media here so negative?

Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognize our own strengths, our achievements?

We are such a Great NATION.

We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them. Why?

We are the first in milk production.

We are number one in Remote sensing satellites.

We are the second largest producer of wheat.

We are the second largest producer of rice.

Look at Dr. Sudarshan , he has transferred the tribal village into a self-sustaining, self-driving unit..

There are millions of such achievements but our media is only obsessed in the bad news and failures and disasters.

I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. It was the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths had taken place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of the newspaper had the picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed his desert into an orchid and a granary. It was this inspiring picture that everyone woke up to. The gory details of killings, bombardments, deaths, were inside in the newspaper, buried among other news.
In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime.
Why are we so NEGATIVE?

Another question: Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things?

We want foreign T.Vs,
We want foreign shirts.
We want foreign technology. Why this obsession with everything imported.

Do we not realize that self-respect comes with self-reliance?

I was in Hyderabad giving this lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph. I asked her what her goal in life is..
She replied: I want to live in a developed India.

For her, you and I will have to build this developed India.

You must proclaim.
India is not an under-developed nation;
it is a highly developed nation...

YOU say that our government is inefficient.

YOU say that our laws are too old.

YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.

Y OU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke. The airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their destination.

YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits.

YOU say, say and say..

What do YOU do about it?

Take a person on his way to Singapore.
Give him a name - 'YOURS'. Give him a face - 'YOURS'. YOU walk out of the airport and you are at your International best.

In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the stores.

YOU are as proud of their Underground links as they are.. You pay $5 (approx. Rs.. 60) to drive through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim Causeway or Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM.

YOU come back to the parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you have over stayed in a restaurant or a shopping mall irrespective of your status identity…
In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU?

YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai ..

YOU would not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah.

YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in London at 10 pounds (Rs..650) a month to, 'see to it that my STD and ISD calls are billed to someone else.

YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 km/h) in Washington and then tell the traffic cop, 'Jaanta hai main kaun hoon (Do you know who I am?). I am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost.'

YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand ..

Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo?

Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston ???
We are still talking of the same YOU.

YOU who can respect and conform to a foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own.

YOU who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you touch Indian ground.

If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien country,
Why cannot you be the same here in India ?

In America every dog owne r has to clean up after his pet has done the job. Same in Japan ..

Will the Indian citizen do that here?

We go to the polls to choose a government and after that forfeit all responsibility.

We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative.

We expect   the government to clean up but we are not going to stop chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick a up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin.

We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to learn the proper use of bathrooms.

We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least opportunity.This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass on the service to the public.

When it comes to burning social issues like those related to women, dowry, girl child! and others what do we do?
We make loud drawing room protestations and continue to do the reverse at home.
OUR EXCUSE?
'It's the whole system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone forego my sons' rights to a dowry.'

So who's going to change the system?
What does a system consist of?
Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbours, other households, other cities, other communities and the government.
But definitely not ME & YOU.

When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the system we lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look into the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr.CLEAN to come along & work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or we leave the country and run away like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to America to bask in their glory and praise their system. When New York becomes insecure we run to England. When England experiences unemployment, we take the next flight out to the Gulf. When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought home by the Indian government.
Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country.

Nobody thinks of feeding the system.

Our conscience is mortgaged to money.

Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inducing, calls for a great deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too…..

I am echoing J. F. Kennedy's words to his fellow Americans to relate to Indians…..'
ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY'

Lets do what India needs from us.
Forward this letter to each Indian for a change instead of sending JUST JOKES.

Thank you …
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

A Homage to Dr. Abdul Kalam

What I will be remembered for.. my memory of the last day with the great Kalam sir...

It has been eight hours since we last talked – sleep eludes me and memories keep flushing down, sometimes as tears. Our day, 27th July, began at 12 noon, when we took our seats in the flight to Guhawati. Dr. Kalam was 1A and I was IC. He was wearing a dark colored “Kalam suit”, and I started off complimenting, “Nice color!” Little did I know this was going to be the last color I will see on him.

Long, 2.5 hours of flying in the monsoon weather. I hate turbulence, and he had mastered over them. Whenever he would see me go cold in shaking plane, he would just pull down the window pane and saw, “Now you don’t see any fear!”.
That was followed by another 2.5 hours of car drive to IIM Shillong. For these two legged trip of five hours we talked, discussed and debated. These were amongsthundreds of the long flights and longer drives we have been together over the last six years.

As each of them, this was as special too. Three incidents/discussions in particular will be “lasting memories of our last trip”.

First, Dr. Kalam was absolutely worried about the attacks in Punjab. The loss of innocent lives left him filledwith sorrow. The topic of lecture at IIM Shillong was Creating a Livable Planet Earth. He related the incident to the topic and said, “it seems the man made forces are as big a threat to the livability of earth as pollution”. We discussed on how, if this trend of violence, pollution and reckless human action continues we will forced to leave earth. “Thirty years, at this rate, maybe”, he said. “You guys must do something about it… it is going to be your future world”

Our second discussion was more national. For the past two days, Dr. Kalam was worried that time and again Parliament, the supreme institution of democracy, was dysfunctional. He said, “I have seen two different governments in my tenure. I have seen more after that. This disruption just keeps happening. It is not right. I really need to find out a way to ensure that the parliament works on developmental politics.” He then asked me to prepare a surprise assignment question for the students at IIM Shillong, which he would give them only at the end of the lecture. He wanted to them to suggest three innovative ways to make the Parliament more productive and vibrant. Then, after a while he returned on it. “But how can ask them to give solutions if I don’t have any myself”. For the next one hour, we thwarted options after options, who come up with his recommendation over the issue. We wanted to include this discussion in our upcoming book, Advantage India.

Third, was an experience from the beauty of his humility. We were in a convoy of 6-7 cars. Dr. Kalam and I were in the second car. Ahead us was an open gypsy with three soldiers in it. Two of them were sitting on either side and one lean guy was standing atop, holding his gun. One hour into the road journey, Dr. Kalam said, “Why is he standing? He will get tired. This is like punishment. Can you ask a wireless message to given that he may sit?” I had to convince him, he has been probably instructed to keep standing for better security. He did not relent. We tried radio messaging, that did not work. For the next 1.5 hours of the journey, he reminded me thrice to see if I can hand signal him to sit down. Finally, realizing there is little we can do – he told me, “I want to meet him and thank him”. Later, when we landed in IIM Shillong, I went inquiring through security people and got hold of the standing guy. I took him inside and Dr. Kalam greeted him. He shook his hand, said thank you buddy. “Are you tired? Would you like something to eat? I am sorry you had to stand so long because of me”. The young lean guard, draped in black cloth, was surprised at the treatment. He lost words, just said, “Sir, aapkeliye to 6 ghante bhi khade rahenge”.
After this, we went to the lecture hall. He did not want to be late for the lecture. “Students should never be made to wait”, he always said. I quickly set up his mike, briefed on final lecture and took position on the computers. As I pinned his mike, he smiled and said, “Funny guy! Are you doing well?” ‘Funny guy’, when said by Kalam could mean a variety of things, depending on the tone and your own assessment. It could mean, you have done well, you have messed up something, you should listen to him or just that you have been plain naïve or he was just being jovial. Over six years I had learnt to interpret Funny Guy like the back of my palm. This time it was the last case.

“Funny guy! Are you doing well?” he said. I smiled back, “Yes”. Those were the last words he said. Two minutes into the speech, sitting behind him, I heard a long pause after completing one sentence. I looked at him, he fell down.

We picked him up. As the doctor rushed, we tried whatever we could. I will never forget the look in his three-quarter closed eyes and I held his head with one hand and tried reviving with whatever I could. His hands clenched, curled onto my finger. There was stillness on his face and those wise eyes were motionlessly radiating wisdom. He never said a word. He did not show pain, only purpose was visible.
 In five minutes we were in the nearest hospital. In another few minutes the they indicated the missile man had flown away, forever. I touched his feet, one last time. Adieu old friend! Grand mentor! See you in my thoughts and meet in the next birth.

As turned back, a closet of thoughts opened.

Often he would ask me, “You are young, decide what will like to be remembered for?” I kept thinking of new impressive answers, till one day I gave up and resorted to tit-for-tat. I asked him back, “First you tell me, what will you like to be remembered for? President, Scientist, Writer, Missile man, India 2020, Target 3 billion…. What?” I thought I had made the question easier by giving options, but he sprang on me a surprise. “Teacher”, he said.

Then something he said two weeks back when we were discussing about his missile time friends. He said, “Children need to take care of their parents. It is sad that sometimes this is not happening”. He paused and said, “Two things. Elders must also do. Never leave wealth at your deathbed – that leaves a fighting family. Second, one is blessed is one can die working, standing tall without any long drawn ailing. Goodbyes should be short, really short”.

Today, I look back – he took the final journey, teaching, what he always wanted to be remembered doing. And, till his final moment he was standing, working and lecturing. He left us, as a great teacher, standing tall. He leaves the world with nothing accumulated in his account but loads of wishes and love of people. He was a successful, even in his end.

Will miss all the lunches and dinners we had together, will miss all the times you surprised me with your humility and startled me with your curiosity, will miss the lessons of life you taught in action and words, will miss our struggles to race to make into flights, our trips, our long debates. You gave me dreams, you showed me dreams need to be impossible, for anything else is a compromise to my own ability. The man is gone, the mission lives on. Long live Kalam.

Your indebted student,

Srijan Pal Singh

A tribute to Dr. Abdul Kalam

A collection of quotes from Abdul Kalam

"Don’t take rest after your first victory because if you fail in second, more lips are waiting to say that your first victory was just luck.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

“All Birds find shelter during a rain. But Eagle avoids rain by flying above the Clouds.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

“Failure will never overtake me if my definition to succeed is strong enough”. - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

“Man needs difficulties in life because they are necessary to enjoy the success.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

“If you want to shine like a sun. First burn like a sun.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam 

“It is very easy to defeat someone, but it is very hard to win someone” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

"All of us do not have equal talent. But , all of us have an equal opportunity to develop our talents.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

" Be more dedicated to making solid achievements than in running after swift but synthetic happiness." - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

"Thinking should become your capital asset, no matter whatever ups and downs you come across in your life."  - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

" Without your involvement you can't succeed. With your involvement you can't fail. " - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

“You have to dream before your dreams can come true.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

“If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

“My message, especially to young people is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, courage to discover the impossible and to conquer the problems and succeed. These are great qualities that they must work towards. This is my message to the young people.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

“To succeed in your mission, you must have single-minded devotion to your goal.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

“Let me define a leader. He must have vision and passion and not be afraid of any problem. Instead, he should know how to defeat it. Most importantly, he must work with integrity.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

“Great dreams of great dreamers are always transcended.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

“Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

“Man needs his difficulties because they are necessary to enjoy success.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

“Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

“You see, God helps only people who work hard. That principle is very clear.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

एक ही विषय पर 6 महान शायरों का नजरिया - Take on the same subject by 6 great Urdu poets

These are some couplets from some very famous Urdu poets on their views on drinking. This is a conversation that has happened over centuries.

Mirza Ghalib:
"शराब पीने दे मस्जिद में बैठ कर ,
या वो जगह बता जहाँ ख़ुदा नहीं"

Iqbal:
"मस्जिद ख़ुदा का घर है, पीने की जगह नहीं ,
काफिर के दिल में जा, वहाँ ख़ुदा नहीं "

Ahmad Faraz:
"काफिर के दिल से आया हूँ मैं ये देख कर,
खुदा मौजूद है वहाँ, पर उसे पता नहीं "

Wasi:
"खुदा तो मौजूद दुनिया में हर जगह है,
तू जन्नत में जा वहाँ पीना मना नहीं "

Saqi:
"पीता हूँ ग़म-ए-दुनिया भुलाने के लिए,
जन्नत में कौनसा ग़म है इसलिए वहाँ पीने में मजा नहीं"
.
Shayar:
सब पीते अपने मज़े के लिए,
बेवजह बदनाम गम है..,
तबियत से पी कर देखो,
फिर दुनिया क्या  जन्नत से कम है

Translation
Mirza Ghalib:
Let me drink liquor sitting in a Masjid,
Or show me the place where there is no God.

Iqbal:
Masjid is God's home, not a place for drinking,
Go to the heart of a Kafir (heathen), there is no God there.

Ahmad Faraz:
I am returning after peaking into a Kafir's (heathen's) heart,
God is present there, but he is unware.


Wasi:
God is present everywhere on Earth,
 Go to heaven, there drinking is not prohibited.

Saqi:
I drink to forget my sorrow,
What sorrow is there in heaven, there is no fun in drinking in heaven.

.
Shayar:
Everybody drinks for their own joy,
They unnecessarily blame the sorrow,
Try drinking for health,
Then Earth will be no less than heaven.


Simply beautiful verses.

GRANDPARENTS' ANSWERING MACHINE

Good morning . . .
At present we are not at home, but please leave your message after you hear the beep.
beeeeeppp ....


If you are one of our children, dial 1 and then select the option from 1 to 5 in order of "birth arrival" so we know who it is.

If you need us to stay with the children, press 2

If you want to borrow the car, press 3

If you want us to wash your clothes and do ironing, press 4

If you want the grandchildren to sleep here tonight, press 5

If you want us to pick up the kids at school, press 6

If you want us to prepare a meal for Sunday or to have it delivered to your home, press 7

If you want to come to eat here, press 8

If you need money, press 9

If you are going to invite us to dinner or take us to the theatre, start talking ..... we are listening...

This may sound funny, but this is the truth in many families today.

Akbar Birbal - Story

Once Akbar taunted Birbal by saying that your God (Krishna) is so powerless that He had to come on His own to save His devotee elephant from the jaws of a crocodile. Had it been the same case with me, I would have sent some of my soldiers to save my friend. Birbal asked for some time so that he can practically show him the reason for that.

One day Birbal was walking by a pond with Akbar's baby son in His lap. He made sure that Akbar sees that he has Akbar's baby. Birbal then tossed the baby into the pond in front of Akbar. Without thinking much Akbar ran towards pond and took a dive and found out that it was just a doll. He questioned Birbal for playing such a childish prank on him.

Birbal replied the just as you didn't think of calling any of your soldiers when you saw your own son drowning, in the same manner Krishna is not able to control Himself when He sees one of His devotees in trouble. He just doesn't think of sending anyone on His behalf, because to Him, His devotees hold the same place which your son holds for you.

Charlie Chaplin and Albert Einstein

An interesting exchange between an actor & genius ...!!!

Albert Einstein said to Charlie Chaplin: "What I most admire about your acting ... You don't ever say a word, and the world understands you."...!!!

"It probably is true", answered Chaplin, "but sir your glory is even greater. The whole world admires you, even though they don't understand a word of what you say.." ...!!!

Life is Exp + Exp + Exp

Life is 3 "Exp+Exp+Exp."
Yesterday was Experience.
Today is Experiment.
Tomorrow is Expectation.
So , use your Experience in your Experiment to achieve your Expectation.
Always believe best is yet to come !!!

Wonderful.

True Friend

Never walk away from a true friend....
When you see some faults..b patient & realize that nobody is perfect....
It's affection that matters, not perfection...!!

But do we really do this?

The same applies for near and dear ones. Nobody is perfect and we need to understand the imperfections of the near and dear ones and ignore them or just make them aware of their imperfections so that if possible they can change themselves and continue to be with them irrespective of whether they are able to improve themselves or not.

We need to be prepared for similar suggestions from them about our imperfections.