Hindustan Times
When Kalam visited HT office in Lucknow!
From Chacha Nehru to Uncle Kalam: The country has come a long way. The media has evolved, so has the scribes.
Can you think of one prominent figure in the country, gutsy enough to tell the journalists to swear by an oath? The missile man did the impossible during his visit to Hindustan Times office on August 3 last. Not because he once occupied the Rashtrapati Bhawan, but because he is Uncle Kalam to all. Yes, the country had chacha Nehru they now have uncle Kalam.
Before I write some snippets from his visit to HT office, here comes the most startling information. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam has not watched television for the last 20 years (there is little possibility of his watching it prior to that). He still prefers the radio for information and soft classical music for entertainment.
The snippets start with the oath.
1. I love my profession, journalism.
2. As a young journalist, I am a partner in national development.
3. As a young journalist, I will always increase my research and analysis capability through university training.
4. I will promote through media the good news about the nation wherever it takes place.
5. I will visit water bodies in Panchayats and report, how it is maintained.
6. I will celebrate the success of our people particularly in the rural areas whether it be in agriculture, fishing or craftsmanship.
7. I will propagate the scientific and technological success stories to different parts of the country for emulation by similarly placed people.
8. I will report innovations, societal movements wherever it occurs.
Simple! I reproduce it here for fellow scribes. Some may dismiss it with grin.
Vision 2020
Kalam recalled a situation in early 1990’s when he was interacting with the youth of Ahmedabad. He said, ” One girl asked me a question ‘ When can I sing a song of India?’ At that time, her brother who was in the United States was always talking about the best in the US. This girl sitting in India was fed up about his brother’s stories and in her quest to find an answer she asked me, ” When can I sing —-?” How do I answer, I have explained about the developed India vision 2020 and told her,’ have a confidence and certainly you can sing a song of India by 2020.’ The same spirit echoed everywhere then. But for the last few years, while interacting with the youth, I had seen a marked change in their thinking. They always ask me, “What can I give to the nation?” That means youth are ready to contribute to the national development. Recently during the last six months I see a further change, they tell me, ‘ I can do it’,’ We can do it’ and the ‘Nation will do it.’ See the 540 million youth of the nation are ready to participate in the development process. They are aspiring to see the developed India before 2020. Media can keep the motivational level by celebrating their success.”
Only a visionary Kalam could have envisioned this.
The Brahmachari
Now for those who wanted to know why he never married.
” I come from a joint family - very big. My family has 40 grandchildren and four great grand children. The latest edition to the family was late last week- my brother’s grandson got a grandson. When you have such a big family, how does it matter if one decides to remain a brahmchari?
On dreaming big, he said, ” Dreams turn into thoughts and thoughts result into actions.”
This was my third meeting with the great man. First one was at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Nothing has changed since he relinquished the high office. And why should he. He was the humblest adorable uncle Kalam, and he continues to remain so.
(7 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Loading ...Posted by Sunita Aron on Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Filed under India · Tagged Chacha Nehru, Hindustan Times, India, journalists, Kalam, Panchayats, Uncle Kalam, US
I still remember oneincident documented in his book Wings of Fire.. he mentions hwo he visisted Israel and the same day a major terrorist sucide atatck has hapepned killing around fifty yet the front page of all the news-paer had story about a farmer innovating in irrigation department..
Good news should always come first.. A very little known website named goodnewsindia.com is doign its duty to thsi effect
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sunita Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Thank you so much Anil. I will check the website. But of late in newspapers also we are trying to frontpage positive news. And that’s what Kalam wanted and that’s what the readers want.
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Dr.Kalam is the greatest Indian living on earth today but our corrupt govt. did not see him that way. He was not given the opportunity to serve India again as President by UPA (Read Sonia Mata) because they found him NDA material. Although UPA behaves as if it is muslim league but it does not consider Dr.Kalam as true muslim.
Dr.Kalam finds almost NIL support among Indian muslims. For them he is very Hindu in nature thus not a complete muslim.
However people like Dr.Kalam don’t need such kind of people for any support. Any Indian who has love for India will always love and support Dr.Kalam.
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sunita Reply:
August 6th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Rajeev,
I disagree with you. Kalam commands respect of all and I think he has full support of the Muslims. Remember his support to Manmohan on the nuclear issue had helped anti-Bush Muslims understand the issue better.
Kalam became president, lead a dignified tenure, so why unnecessarily accuse others for not giving him a second term. Otherwise also Rajeev, some get status from chair, some give dignity to chair. Kalam belongs to the second category.
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Rajeev Reply:
August 6th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
We agree to disagree.
How many muslim youth consider Kalam as their hero? I’ll say almost negligible compared to status of MUSLIM VILLAINS across the border.
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please can we not bring religion into all this!
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Rajeev Reply:
August 10th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Amit,
I am just asking how many muslims consider Dr.Kalam as role model for themselves?
This is not a communal question. If majority of muslims start considering Dr.Kalam as role model, it will make all so-called communal people irrelevant.
This is typical Indian attitude of not facing the difficult questions.
Remember real world is very different that Bolllywood world (where hindu-muslim-sikh-isai give blood to their long lost MAA).
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moughal Reply:
August 18th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
I am an indian and a muslim and i consider Dr. A PJ Abdul Kalaam a global role model , regarding how many muslim !! sorry no data available sir, but i was wondering why the hell you asked this question on the first place , ok Lets consider your question is valid for a moment … now tell me do you consider Dr. Abul Kalam Azad and Dr. Zakir Hussain as your leader and Role Model………………..
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sunita Reply:
August 19th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
moghul,
I think we should keep religion out of it
Rajeev will also change his opinion one day
Agreed Amit
We should not drag religion into everything
lets rise above that
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Sure….kalam uncle rocks….!A man who has worn so many hats & continues to do so……finds an accord with everybody!
I remember an instance that when he had come to my college as a chief guest,I was surprised to see that he was busy talking to student union leaders for most of the time while my director was sitting just beside him!When he was having his lunch,he didnt bother to have a chat with waiters as well!That reflects the humbleness & Quality of the great person!!
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You know amitabh , his famous one liner is - what do you do?
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Is it necessary to say that Abdul Kalam Azad is so and so i feel proud of him that he is more Indian than me.and ashamed of Sonia Gandhi&Manmohan Singh. just because Azad ji shows his true Indian thought and Sonia could not become PrimeMinister of this Great Nation when he was the President of country.that is why no one knows from where Partibha Patil was made President of the country,now PM&President both can not ask a question to Sonia Gandhi.
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