For a ‘shining’ country whose annual celebrations of
attaining freedom is just a fortnight away, however non-inclusive its
development may still remain after nearly seven decades of independence, a
leader’s demise has unified India, even if by a sense of an irreparable loss. Binding in its grief not just the common man
but even the usually warring politicians, a pall of gloom descended upon the
length and breadth of this vast, geographically diverse, democratic wonder when
the sudden demise of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Azad was announced on 27th
July. A visionary scientist and former President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam, was
an inspiration to many youngsters and an ideal (even if a reluctant)
politician. Not only was he an esteemed man of science but also he was an
exemplary humanitarian.
The media is flush with anecdotes -- from young students,
his assistants, in fact, any person who had the privilege of even sharing a
fleeting moment with him – unending testaments of Abdul Kalam’s extraordinary
intelligence, compassion, dreams, ideas, inspiration, humility and action. A
particular one captured my heart. His assistant, Srijan Pal Singh was with him on
the fateful evening when the country’s 11th President suffered a fatal
stroke while delivering a lecture to students at IIM Shillong. Singh mentioned
on a FB post that Dr. Abdul Kalam wanted to be remembered as a ‘Teacher’ over
all the other luminous distinctions he had achieved over his eight decade
lifespan!
To take an excerpt from his FB post, Singh writes - ‘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.’
That speaks volumes of a person’s dedication and passion
towards learning and teaching and most of all, his humility. Even when he
became President in 2002, Abdul Kalam didn’t let go of teaching. He would reportedly
grab any opportunity to teach youngsters and children. Even when he retired
gracefully from the President’s post, he went back to living with his brother
in his humble apartment and went about meeting children, answering questions
while seeking answers. He believed in the promise and brilliance that the
children and the youth hold and dedicated his last few decades of life to
ignite their brilliance in his hometown, Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu. He believed
that every child could achieve what he did too as a small town lad.
In his book Wings of Fire, he elucidates his remarkable
journey - “My story—the story of the son of Jainulabdeen, who lived for over a
hundred years on Mosque Street in Rameswaram island and died there; the story
of a lad who sold newspapers to help his brother; the story of a pupil reared
by Sivasubramania Iyer and Iyadurai Solomon; the story of a student taught by
teachers like Pandalai; the story of an engineer spotted by MGK Menon and
groomed by the legendary Prof. Sarabhai; the story of a scientist tested by
failures and setbacks; the story of a leader supported by a large team of
brilliant and dedicated professionals. This story will end with me, for I have
no belongings in the worldly sense. I have acquired nothing, built nothing,
possess nothing—no family, sons, daughters.”
Well, unfortunately the story has now ended but it is
immortalised by inspiring, sparking, motivating and directing another thousands
of remarkable stories. APJ Abdul Kalam, while being one of our greatest
teachers, will remain to be known a most inspiring student. This legend’s
entire life is a lesson whose truth has rung in since eternity – ‘Karmade
vadhikarsya maa phaleshu kadachin’- keep doing your work without thinking of
its fruits. He had once mentioned that it would be greatest honour to continue
doing what one loves till the last breath and what a befitting farewell he bade
while doing what he loved the most – Teaching!
Now it is up to us how we choose to carry forward his
legacy. Especially at this crucial juncture as the nation’s education system
stands shrouded in corruption, inefficacies and scams. What are we willing to
do to ensure that our coming generations will have the freedom to simply do
what they love to do? When will we achieve that sense of true freedom even if
for our children? So that we get to ignite the greatness within each of us and
each other…
Can’t think of a better way to conclude as for one of the
most powerful truths of Dr. Kalam -
“We are all born with a
divine fire in us. Our efforts should be to give wings to this fire and fill the
world with the glow of its goodness.”
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