A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is
an embodiment of unique brand of humanitarianism.
Everybody who is somebody has said something about A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam for various reasons. So, let us move away from his bio-data and biographical
sketches, as they have been well documented by many.
Normally people of extremes grab the attention of
biographers, i.e. those who deserve to be vilified or venerated. It is so
because of the impact that they create, through instigation or inspiration,
with their ability, dexterity, utility etc.
We normally classify all of these under one broad banner as
contribution to humanity for our convenience because we do not know and also do
not want to take the trouble of learning the art of unbiased appreciation of
activities, attributes in terms of contextual relevance.
He neither perceived life through the prism of prejudices
nor did he comprehend life through the confines of confirmation bias based on
any specific ideology be it religious, cultural, social, political,
academically anointed isms, national, scientific hypothesis etc but carried on
life with a love for life in its completeness with carefree abandon of childlike
inquisitiveness, natural humility, unqualified inhibition-free love to learn
and share what he learnt with all.
I am cautiously refraining from giving any credits to any of
his actions like what he shared was useful or worthy etc because there are
several reasons. One we are in a nation imbued with unloving critics and
uncritical lovers; people susceptible to be easily emotionally surcharged, all
the more surprisingly, because he was not alienated or isolated from or away
from any of the big whirlpools of identities mentioned above [namely religions,
political ideologies, socio –cultural bias etc] that engulf ordinary mortals or
at least entrenche them with some of their dampness.
He was in the midst of both tall statesmen like political
leaders and small political manipulators, in short had to be in the thick of
politics but never overtly showed any political affinity nor made any political
statement.
His cultural interests were influenced initially as they
ought to be by regional socio- cultural milieu, religion in which one is born
into and the religions that one sees practiced around etc but as he matured
with unbiased appreciation and inhibition-free inquisitiveness coupled with his incisive mind and open heart made his
cultural interests to be impacted by aesthetic sensitivity in tune with his
inherent attributes of sense of balance
and calm disposition that he ventured into learning a lot of things from other religious texts, various
forms of Indian classical music, literatures of different genres and of many
languages etc.
Despite all great strides that he has made in the field of
science he was never a prey to any fanatical academic fixation preaching that
some particular scientific approach as the panacea for all of India’s short
comings.
The hall mark of his greatness was his ability to maintain a
sense of balance in the midst of all trails starting from the pangs of hunger
and poverty to dealing with delicate obligations of tackling perversions of
political world.
By birth, name, charitable disposition, untiring hard
working instincts and focused sincerity of devotion and courage of conviction he
is a Muslim; by academic qualifications he is a scientist; by the topmost post he held he is one among the
great Presidents of India; by profession
and passion he is a teacher; by some of the things he liked and practiced he is
a greater Hindu than most Hindus are, especially his not unduly bothering about
the results nor claiming credit for any great result and not bothering about
any material possession- a great manifestation of detachment to the fruits of
karma as preached in Hinduism; a greater Christian than most Christians are ;
by cherishing with pride the greatness of India’s rich heritage and living it
by practicing in his day to day life he is a greater nationalist than any of
those mere real-estate-expansion venerating patriots or publicity peddlers
singing refrain of India’s past glory; his foresight in terms of economic
advancement of the nation is commendable because it was not influenced by any
imported theories of economic
development but was purely based on our nation’s strengths and requirements-
strength are its demography of youth and
vast natural resources and requirements are creating enough opportunities for
their education, developing scientific temperament and development of rural
life with availability of certain basic vital resources like water, electricity
etc. But by the way he lived his life, inspired [especially young children and
youth] and loved everyone to live it that way and enjoy life in its fullness
and share it with all, he is a highly qualified, sensible, humble and simple humanitarian
above all.
His humanitarianism was not one propelled by any blind faith
nor any institutionalized publicity posturing nor any NGO funded exhibition but
born out of real sensible concern for life in general and the welfare of the
great nation which has given him and offers to all sincere souls such unique
opportunities. This made him use his discretion and not discrimination for any
consideration. He carried on his activities with very high caliber, clarity of
thinking and contextual relevance. He did not succumb to sanctions, to sermons or to diplomatic wheedling. He did not shower any undue favor to anyone on any basis
or refuse to help any deserving soul.
He was preaching peace with scientifically enhanced strength through our
nuclear power, harboring harmony, spreading happiness, hosting honesty and
humble humanitarianism based on care and compassion for other human beings
beyond restraints of religions and the constraints communal divisions, of
course with recognition and respect for the higher or superior or invisible
divine power with the necessity to take care of the economic, material and
environmental welfare of the society at large.
He was an example of a person with unique aesthetic sensitivity,
scientific temperament who presented a more polished psychology of human personality;
chemistry of human rhythm which moves the inner self in perfect harmony with the outer world because such
souls do not take a stand and stand put there forever; but understand the
importance of contextual relevance to effect the necessary changes; these
attributes anoint an attitude wherein it creates a physics of gravitational
force of love and supplies a sociology of inter-human contours and proper
perception of philosophy of life.
Serendipity is an
invisible angel that favors this great nation, against all odds, listening to
concerned minds through clairaudience and cares for the silent pleadings of the
collective consciousness of the nation and invariably sends appropriate souls to it in
suitable situations or to create suitable situations. So, it was no surprise
that A.P.J. Abdul Kalam chose and was chosen by groups/people with mutual
understanding and good intentions of the nation above everything else.
I made a twitter
slide after his demise, not with a photo with him, but the following message
which I thought needed no elaboration. However, as I have been asked to write a
short biographical sketch I decided to write what are the things needed to be etched from
his life in our hearts. I am sharing the script of that twitter slide more to
make people learn the art of appreciating the appropriate greatness of great
souls with appropriate frames of
reference- a useful link to one such essay of appreciation is given in the end.
Script of my twitter slide below sums it all.
