“If you want to shine
like a sun, then burn like sun” – the
exemplar, Mr. APJ Abdul Kalam truly lived his own words. The former President
was not born with a ‘silver spoon’ in
his mouth; yet he was born with a great ‘incentive
spoon’ which drove him to the crest of the wave.
A lad eked out a living by
selling newspapers and today news and obituaries of the same fellow have occupied
the newspapers! Ironical. Isn’t it? The hapless newspaper vendor rose like the
Phoenix from the abyss of poverty to the pinnacle of success and demonstrated
the world that if you have strong determination, colossal dreams and the
strength and will to achieve them, then no soul can clip your wings. The
dreamer and the visionary carved his own destiny from very humble origins to
the summit which was not a low hanging fruit.
In the fictitious world of the novel
“A Woman of Substance”, a bildungsroman by Barbara Taylor Bradford, Emma Harte
was born to an impoverished Yorkshire family who rose from rags to riches; from servant girl to
become one of the richest women in the world. It was only her unshakable faith
and implacable will power to achieve something that made her unbolt the portals
of success. The phrase - nothing succeeds
like success –seems apt for the protagonist.
Anyway, before I digress all the
way off the cliff, let me get to the point. I recall Einstein’s words about
Gandhi ji and further dedicate them to Kamaal
Kalam ji, “Generations to come will
scarce believe that such man ever walked upon this Earth.” The news of the
demise of the Missile Man was bolt from the blue to millions. A pall of gloom
enshrouded the territory. Bharat has lost a ‘Ratna’ ; the Ratna who
radiated light throughout his life and would continue to do so, enabling the posterity
to bask in his goodness!
People remember Mr. Kalam as
their former President, scientist, writer etc., but for me he was a complete
teacher. The sweetheart of students , he was rightly hailed the People’s President. In fact, the great
man once said, “If people remember me as
a good teacher that will be the biggest honour for me.” Perhaps, his one of
the last wishes would have been to breathe his last while teaching and it did
fulfill. Dr. Kalam never compromised on his penchant for teaching. He
repeatedly urged the kids to never hesitate asking questions. In fact, while
running short of time, he could not take doubts from all students on his visits
to various educational institutions. But he made sure to give his e-mail id to
them and responding to their e-mails in a couple of days. He had amalgamated
the honesty of a child with the energy of a teenager and the maturity of an
adult. A mourner said , “He had a
childlike curiosity and wisdom of a sage.” In truth, Kalam ji was neither a Muslim nor
Hindu; he was a learner with a down-to-earth approach.
Few lines directly from the heart
for the nation’s great son:
“Chamka jahan mein tu bankar atal sitara,
Ae Kalam tujhsa hoga nahi dobara…”
KALAM KO SALAAM !
JAI HIND…