RIP - apj@abdulkalam.com - whom will our Youths write to and who will answer our Youths inquisitive questions ?

Its indeed sad to hear about the sudden demise of our beloved late President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Populary known as the Missile Man and loved and revered by one and all from children to the old and across the world. He demystified the aura around the Presidents Office and made himself and his office & his palace accessible to the common man. He was one of the first President to vote. After relinquishing his office he went back and stayed in a One & a Half room house - in stark contrast to the earlier Presidents.




He was know for simplicity, kindness, cheerful smile, integrity and forthrightness. He loved to spend time with Children for he felt that if he could influence the minds of the youth of India, he could help shape the future of India.


I was fortunate to have shook hands with him and listen to his address at the NHRD National Conference in Hyderabad in Nov 2013. He spoke with great passion and urged all of us to Dream and to always work with an attitude to "Serve - People, Humanity & the Nation". He said HR is all about serving and not just to Corporate Honcho's and to Corporate Employees but also to widen our horizon of serving the People at Large. He made a very sarcastic remark "Love your job - Dont love your Company, because you may not know when your Company will stop loving you". So very true in this Opportunistic world.


He took a few questions and due to want of time, he said "dont worry, I will answer all your questions. Pl. write to me apj@abdulkalam.com and I promise you, you will get a reply in 24 hours". Amazing human being and from a Ex-President of the Largest Democracy.


He has left a big void and I wonder whom will the youth of India write to in future and who will answer their inquisitive questions ?


Here is a replication of a Whatsup Message I received from a purported student (not verified however) - Sirjan Pal Singh , who was with Dr. Kalam during his visit to IIM Shillong and his last few hours. It reinforces the greatness , simplicity & concern for humanity,  of Dr. Kalam and his love for spending time with the Youth of India . No wonder he died almost in the arms of the people he loved the most - STUDENTS :


Quote from Whats Up Message:
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"What I will be remembered for.. my memory of the last day with the great Kalam sir...


It has been eight hours since we last talked – sleep eludes me and memories keep flushing down, sometimes as tears. Our day, 27th July, began at 12 noon, when we took our seats in the flight to Guhawati. Dr. Kalam was 1A and I was IC. He was wearing a dark colored “Kalam suit”, and I started off complimenting, “Nice color!” Little did I know this was going to be the last color I will see on him.


Long, 2.5 hours of flying in the monsoon weather. I hate turbulence, and he had mastered over them. Whenever he would see me go cold in shaking plane, he would just pull down the window pane and saw, “Now you don’t see any fear!”.


That was followed by another 2.5 hours of car drive to IIM Shillong. For these two legged trip of five hours we talked, discussed and debated. These were amongsthundreds of the long flights and longer drives we have been together over the last six years.


As each of them, this was as special too. Three incidents/discussions in particular will be “lasting memories of our last trip”.


First, Dr. Kalam was absolutely worried about the attacks in Punjab. The loss of innocent lives left him filledwith sorrow. The topic of lecture at IIM Shillong was Creating a Livable Planet Earth. He related the incident to the topic and said, “it seems the man made forces are as big a threat to the livability of earth as pollution”. We discussed on how, if this trend of violence, pollution and reckless human action continues we will forced to leave earth. “Thirty years, at this rate, maybe”, he said. “You guys must do something about it… it is going to be your future world”


Our second discussion was more national. For the past two days, Dr. Kalam was worried that time and again Parliament, the supreme institution of democracy, was dysfunctional. He said, “I have seen two different governments in my tenure. I have seen more after that. This disruption just keeps happening. It is not right. I really need to find out a way to ensure that the parliament works on developmental politics.” He then asked me to prepare a surprise assignment question for the students at IIM Shillong, which he would give them only at the end of the lecture. He wanted to them to suggest three innovative ways to make the Parliament more productive and vibrant. Then, after a while he returned on it. “But how can ask them to give solutions if I don’t have any myself”. For the next one hour, we thwarted options after options, who come up with his recommendation over the issue. We wanted to include this discussion in our upcoming book, Advantage India.


Third, was an experience from the beauty of his humility. We were in a convoy of 6-7 cars. Dr. Kalam and I were in the second car. Ahead us was an open gypsy with three soldiers in it. Two of them were sitting on either side and one lean guy was standing atop, holding his gun. One hour into the road journey, Dr. Kalam said, “Why is he standing? He will get tired. This is like punishment. Can you ask a wireless message to given that he may sit?” I had to convince him, he has been probably instructed to keep standing for better security. He did not relent. We tried radio messaging, that did not work. For the next 1.5 hours of the journey, he reminded me thrice to see if I can hand signal him to sit down. Finally, realizing there is little we can do – he told me, “I want to meet him and thank him”. Later, when we landed in IIM Shillong, I went inquiring through security people and got hold of the standing guy. I took him inside and Dr. Kalam greeted him. He shook his hand, said thank you buddy. “Are you tired? Would you like something to eat? I am sorry you had to stand so long because of me”. The young lean guard, draped in black cloth, was surprised at the treatment. He lost words, just said, “Sir, aapkeliye to 6 ghantebhikhaderahenge”.


After this, we went to the lecture hall. He did not want to be late for the lecture. “Students should never be made to wait”, he always said. I quickly set up his mike, briefed on final lecture and took position on the computers. As I pinned his mike, he smiled and said, “Funny guy! Are you doing well?” ‘Funny guy’, when said by Kalam could mean a variety of things, depending on the tone and your own assessment. It could mean, you have done well, you have messed up something, you should listen to him or just that you have been plain naïve or he was just being jovial. Over six years I had learnt to interpret Funny Guy like the back of my palm. This time it was the last case.


“Funny guy! Are you doing well?” he said. I smiled back, “Yes”. Those were the last words he said. Two minutes into the speech, sitting behind him, I heard a long pause after completing one sentence. I looked at him, he fell down.


We picked him up. As the doctor rushed, we tried whatever we could. I will never forget the look in his three-quarter closed eyes and I held his head with one hand and tried reviving with whatever I could. His hands clenched, curled onto my finger. There was stillness on his face and those wise eyes were motionlessly radiating wisdom. He never said a word. He did not show pain, only purpose was visible.


In five minutes we were in the nearest hospital. In another few minutes the they indicated the missile man had flown away, forever. I touched his feet, one last time. Adieu old friend! Grand mentor! See you in my thoughts and meet in the next birth.


As turned back, a closet of thoughts opened.


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.


Then something he said two weeks back when we were discussing about his missile time friends. He said, “Children need to take care of their parents. It is sad that sometimes this is not happening”. He paused and said, “Two things. Elders must also do. Never leave wealth at your deathbed – that leaves a fighting family. Second, one is blessed is one can die working, standing tall without any long drawn ailing. Goodbyes should be short, really short”.


Today, I look back – he took the final journey, teaching, what he always wanted to be remembered doing. And, till his final moment he was standing, working and lecturing. He left us, as a great teacher, standing tall. He leaves the world with nothing accumulated in his account but loads of wishes and love of people. He was a successful, even in his end.


Will miss all the lunches and dinners we had together, will miss all the times you surprised me with your humility and startled me with your curiosity, will miss the lessons of life you taught in action and words, will miss our struggles to race to make into flights, our trips, our long debates. 


You gave me dreams, you showed me dreams need to be impossible, for anything else is a compromise to my own ability. The man is gone, the mission lives on. Long live Kalam."


Your indebted student,


Srijan Pal Singh

"WINGS OF FIRE" has flown away - RIP Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

He did not die while resting on his sofa. He did not die eating his favorite food at a posh restaurant. He did not die while signing his cheques. He did not die sick in his comforting bed.

He died while he was interacting with students which has always been his favorite thing in the world. Dieing while doing our most loved thing. How many of us are going to do it?

His body may have left. His 'Wings of Fire' has no death. They'll always flutter in air. All around us.

When you live, live like him. When you die, die like him.

RIP Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Heaven is lucky from now!

"Don’t take rest after your first victory because if you fail in second, more lips are waiting to say that your first victory was just luck.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

“All Birds find shelter during a rain. But Eagle avoids rain by flying above the Clouds.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

“Failure will never overtake me if my definition to succeed is strong enough”. - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

“Man needs difficulties in life because they are necessary to enjoy the success.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

“If you want to shine like a sun. First burn like a sun.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam 

“It is very easy to defeat someone, but it is very hard to win someone” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

"All of us do not have equal talent. But , all of us have an equal opportunity to develop our talents.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

" Be more dedicated to making solid achievements than in running after swift but synthetic happiness." -A.P.J Abdul Kalam

"Thinking should become your capital asset, no matter whatever ups and downs you come across in your life."  - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

" Without your involvement you can't succeed. With your involvement you can't fail. " - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

Following are 10 quotes by the scientist, author and former President:  courtesy NDTV

1. You have to dream before your dreams can come true.
2. Excellence is a continuous process and not an accident.
3. Life is a difficult game. You can win it only by retaining your birthright to be a person.
4. Man needs his difficulties because they are necessary to enjoy success.
5. We will be remembered only if we give to our younger generation a prosperous and safe India, resulting out of economic prosperity coupled with civilizational heritage.
6. Those who cannot work with their hearts achieve but a hollow, half-hearted success that breeds bitterness all around.
7. Educationists should build the capacities of the spirit of inquiry, creativity, entrepreneurial and moral leadership among students and become their role model.
8. Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work.
9. If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.
10. My message, especially to young people is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, courage to discover the impossible and to conquer the problems and succeed. These are great qualities that they must work towards. This is my message to the young people.

Story First Published: July 27, 2015 22:30 IST

Who are your REAL FRIENDS ?

My uncle used to tell me that life is not going to be the same after you quit your high profile job. All those people who appeared to be your friends will not be the same after you have moved out of that position. People were with you because of the position that you occupied and you will know who your true friends are only after you have moved out of that position. Well this message is a timely reminder of that smile emoticon

What is maturity ?

Manish Maladkar‎Life-An Odyssey by Dr Manish Maladkar

What is Maturity ?

• Maturity is when you strop trying to change people, and instead focus on changing yourself.
• Maturity is when you accept people for who they are.
• Maturity is when you understand that everyone is right in their own perspective.
• Maturity is when you learn to “let go”.
• Maturity is when you understand that whatever you do, you do for your own peace.
• Maturity is when you stop proving to the world how intelligent you are.
• Maturity is when you focus on positives in people.
• Maturity is when you do not seek approval from others.
• Maturity is when you stop comparing yourself with others.
• Maturity is when you are at peace with yourself.
• Maturity is when you can differentiate between “need” and “want”, and you can let go of your wants.
• Maturity is when you stop attaching “happiness” to material things.
• Be simple. Be positive. Be relax. Show Maturity.

Needs can always be met but not greed - A wonderful message by Super Star Rajanikanth

Will Britain say SORRY - a brilliant speech by Dr Shashi Tharoor

In an explosive speech at the Oxford Union, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, a member of the Indian Parliament and a Congress MP argued that the British looted and plundered India during the 200 Years of British Raj of the subcontinent, and that Britain must accept that it owes a debt to India for its wrongdoings during the days of the British Empire.

Taking part in a debate at the famous Oxford Union, he argued why Britain owes India reparations for the economic and psychological decline of its people during the rule, and that of all the countries in the Commonwealth, India was Britain's biggest cash cow during that period.

He explained the manner in which Britain used India and its resources for its own benefit, and that British families working for the Empire had minted money at the expense of India for over two centuries.

He explained how India's share of the world economy fell from 24% of world economy when it invaded India to about 4% when British Empire left India in 1947 in a space of 200 years. Between 15-29 million Indians died due to starvation during their Rule. Its appalling to hear him say that when there was the great Bengal Famine where hundreds of people were dying each day because Britain diverted the food from India to UK, Winston Churchill had the temerity to ask "is Mahatma Gandhi still alive and why is he not dead".
Violence & Racism (famous Divide & Rule strategy) was rampantly implemented in the country.

During the world war of all  all the British forces that fought in the war, fifty-four thousand Indians, actually lost their lives in that war 65,000 were wounded and another 4,000 remained missing or in prison. Indian taxpayers had to cough up a hundred million pounds. India supplied seventy million rounds of ammunition 600 thousand rifles and machine and 1.3 million Indian personnel served in the war.

In the end but total value everything that was taken out of India and that too during the Great Depresssion / Recession time and poverty and hunger was in today's money its billion pounds.

During the Second World War (where my Father late Major Dr K Rajagopal served), it was even worse two and a half million Indians in uniform and Britain at  one point $25 billion was owed to India.

Our railways and roads were really built to serve British interests are not those for the local people. They were designed to carry raw materials from the hinterland into the ports to be shipped to Britain. Indian Railways were built with massive incentives offered by Britain to British investors guaranteed out to Indian taxes paid by Indians with the result that you actually had one mile of Indian rail was costing twice what it cost to build the same  in Canada or Australia because there was so much money being paid and extravagant returns. Britain made all the profits, control the technology supplied, all the equipment and absolutely all these benefits came as private enterprise at public risk.

The wrongs that have been done cannot be denied, the fact remains that many of today's problems in these countries including the persistent in some cases the creation of racial and ethnic and religious tensions were the direct result of the colonial experience. So there is a moral debt that needs to be paid.

It’s not without precedence. Israel gave reparations to Poland. Italy's reparations to Libya, Japan's to Korea and even Britain has paid reparations to the New Zealand Maoris so it's not as if this is something unprecedented.

There was reference to democracy and rule of law. What sort of democracy was it, when the British oppressed, enslaved, killed, tortured and maimed people for two hundred years and then celebrate the fact that the democratic at the end of it wreaths.

The debate is not of how much should Britain pay to India as Reparation, but the question is, is there a debt that Britain owes to India. More than in money terms it’s the moral debt that Britain owes to India. Would Britain have the gumption to acknowledge a wrong that has been done - to simply say Sorry to India for all the misdeeds perpetuated on India for 200 years during their Colonial British Rule (Raj).

Would they or not depends on their Conscience & their value systems…….

Truly a great speech and carried a lot of resolve &guts to have spoken against the British right in Britain. Hats off to you Shashi for standing up to India right in the Opponents territory. For what ever your past and controversies, I remain your ardent fan for your sheer ability to articulate and the communication skills and the poise & grace with which you deliver........

The Incredible Leh / Ladakh experience - A travelogue by Ramesh Ranjan

Set in Himalayan mountain splendour, Ladakh is an enchanted land, which amid the global chaos of our new century, seems in control of its own destiny. The scenic splendour of the soaring mountains and pristine valleys, coupled with the vibrancy of its cultural life, makes Ladakh one of the last undiscovered destinations, an adventure to feed the soul and enrich the senses.

Leh the erstwhile capital of the kingdom of Ladakh is now a dream destination of many and the Mecca of adventure enthusiasts! Leh, one of the coldest deserts in the world is located at a distance of 434 Kms from Srinagar and 474 Kms from Manali (Himachal Pradesh).

Leh is an adventurer’s haven. We have around 100+ bikers (mostly Royal Enfield bikes – mostly driven solo an in some cases with pillion riders including some women). It’s also supposed to be a backpacker's haven with numerous trekking trails, valleys, and picturesque lakes. Renowned as the land of monks and monasteries there is lots to see in this amazing piece of land.

Surely a must place to visit in one’s life.

We embarked on this 7N/8D trip organised by Eezeego.com and were joined by another 3 families at Delhi. Here are some glimpses of our trip to LEH, probably one of the best places I have visited in my life so far (have been to aroun 46 countries so far) and an unforgettable experience of driving thru the Himalayas across snow-capped mountains, deserts, sand dunes, lakes, highest Pass, highest Airport, highest Lake, highest Motorable Road – truly a high point in my life.

Read on the Travelogue