Question

What were the three visions of Dr. Kalam? As a responsible citizen of your country, what role can you play in this regard?

Answer 1

First vision is of Freedom. He speaks of our rich history of not invading any country in past 3000 years and more even though we have been invaded, looted and ruled by the Greeks, the Turks, the Moguls, the Portuguese, the British, the French, the Dutch to name a few. Yet we choose to respect the freedom of others. So he wants us to respect the freedom which we fought so hard to gain and protect it and nurture and build a free country respected by all.

Second vision is of Development. He argues we have been a developing nation from past 50 years or so in spite of having a GDP to be in top 5 rising nations and poverty line crumbling apart in face of the 10 per cent growth in most areas. Then why do we not see ourselves as a developed nation in near future. Why is there such a lack of confidence to be self reliant and self assured?

His third vision for the nation was based on equality, the dignity of the individual and justice, social, economic and political, to every Indian. Only then can India succeed and everybody sing the song of India, he quoted. He highlighted our success stories from milk revolution to the wheat and rice production, and many more. He asked every citizen that it is quick for us to point out that our government is inefficient, our laws are too old, municipality does not come and pick the garbage, the railways are joke, the airline is the worst in the world, that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pit. We just say, say, and say.

But what we do about it?

This was his question.

He questioned our ethics when we travel to foreign lands and we respect and conform to their system in place but not respect ours. He pointed out we won’t throw waste on beaches in Australia and New Zealand, spit paan on the streets of Tokyo, buy fake certificates in Boston, over speed on the streets of Washington and shout out loud, “ Do you know who I am? I am so and so’s son. Take your two bucks and get lost.”. We can be proud of Singapore’s underground trains or their clean pavements roads etc.

But we never do something for our nation except going our for polls, choosing a government and then forfeiting all responsibility. We do nothing but expect everything.

He echoes that the system is not only made up of our neighbors, other cities, other communities and the government. The system is you and me.

He asks us all to contribute to the society in whatever way it is possible but not to sit back and wait for some Mr. Clean to make India great again.

He was aware of the fact that everybody is out there to abuse and rape the country. Nobody thinks to feed the system and drive the change. All our conscience is mortgaged to money.

But he was also aware of the power within us to bring the change we want to see in our country, and thus he echoed it everywhere he went. Be it to that 8 year old kid who asked him why are we poor? or that girl who told him that she wants to live in a developed India.

All he wanted from us was to drive the change and make India great again.