APJ Abdul Kalam - A small Homage

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam is a person who through his life has left a mark of how one could be simple in

spite having achieved humongous success in life. APJ Abdul Kalam as better known to all of us was a very simple human being curious to know and learn through his life.

He was the President of India because he successfully lead the Indian Missile program and ensured India carried out its second and more powerful nuclear test. These are his well known facts and He never entertained a thought to throw his weight around, he was a simpleton before he lived in Rashtrapathi Bhavan and he continued to be a simpleton after demitting office.

My friend's son was selected in the NASA conducted test and he gets a call from Mr. Kalam, while he was residing in the Anna University campus and expresses his desire to meet the young man. My friend fondly remembers the close to 2 hours time spent by Kalam ji with this budding young man. The curiosity with which he chatted with this young man shows how committed a learner he was through his life.

His love to meet the young minds during the office and before and after the same, only goes to show, how he wanted to ignite the desire to dream in the young Indian minds. Probably his term is the only one where there was always a preference for young people to visit the residence on Raisina Hill compared to regular politicians who throng there.

No less than 40 universities have bestowed their Doctorates on this one man, which goes to show, how well lettered and knowledgeable he was and still so simple n humble through his life. Recently we had a Chaiwala becoming the PM, but we had a Paper boy becoming a Nuclear Scientist and a President of a nation earlier in the form of Sri APJ Abdul Kalam, indeed it is a tribute to our democracy and its traditions of honouring the best n the noble.

When ever there was this news that circulated about his illness and media ignoring it on Facebook and Whatsapp, I used to feel, how ignorant are people. Today when I heard the news about his demise and the spontaneous out pour over the social media and elsewhere, I could feel the tremors of the nations love for this one man. I have never seen so much respect and love cutting across all walks of life to any other person. Probably there is no throat which is not parched today and no heart which had not shed a tear.

This is what I believe is leaving a mark in the minds of people, only achieved by great people and indeed today India had lost a great son and a true Indian, he belonged to no region, no religion, no caste, he is the universally accepted MISSILE MAN OF INDIA & a PEOPLE'S PRESIDENT 

Salute sir, keep blessing us from up there and there are 1.3 Billion Indians who are going to miss you.

Bharat Ratna - is it demandable

Bharat Ratna the highest Indian award/recognition given to an individual who excels in his field of activity and contributes to the pride of the country. When you look at the demands being made by one and all it sounds so ludicrous

Up to a point of time this award was only given to people who were in politics and the trend got changed some time in the history where people like Mother Theresa, Abdul Kalam, Lata Mangheskar, Bhismillah Khan and their likes were recognized worthy of this recognition.

When we consider the whys and why not of the selection process shouldn’t we look at what each individual has contributed to the nation building effort. Let’s look at some of the contenders

One is a nation’s foremost statesman, who played a very effective role of a opposition leader and also lead the first full term Non-Congress government at the centre.

Next is a person who has lead the second revolution of the dalit uplifting and in the end days died a very confined death and predominantly unsung except for by his protege, that to more as an after thought.

Another a seasoned poet and a regional leader who was known for his anti-Hindi agitation and today’s pressure politics (His party has enjoyed the power at the centre for over a decade by being with the right alliance), family first policy etc., apart from this he is not known much for national building, he is being pushed by his well wishers for this award.

Once in a while we here about a film star turned politician whose erstwhile party which keeps demanding the award being bestowed on him. No doubt there are some worthy names which are missing in this madness for proposals including a former prime minister who has initiated the economic reforms, the benefit of which we are all enjoying today.

Another senior leader of a leftist party is being propped for his leadership of a state for over two decades during which period it has gone from being a industrial capital of the country to a most backward state status. This party other than it’s self proclaimed nations conscious keeper status done nothing much towards nation building.

No doubt there are more such names doing the rounds, one doesn’t really understand why so much of noise is being generated in this regard. Why not we take few examples from different walks of life and evolve a mechanism which can deliver a blemish free selection.

Noble prize winners are selected by a five man committee constituted by the Norwegian parliament for that purpose and they will dwell on various proposals and then come out with a valued judgment. Closer home let’s look at the effort of a Business publication which has been selecting the ‘Best Businessman of the year’ with a well constituted panel which is headed by the previous years winner.

It is worthwhile that a parliament appointed committee consisting of eminent people (who are unlikely to appease for this appointment) to select the Highest Civilian awardees. Let all these propagandists send in their nominations for the award detailing why they propose the award for their candidate.