Abdul Kalam's speech

I got this as a forward. I dont know if this was really made by him. But it does make a lot of sense. Over to the speech now.

___________________________________________________
Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam.

"I have three visions for India. In 3000 Years of our history, people from all over the world have come and invaded us, captured our lands, conquered our minds.

From Alexander on wards. The Greeks, the Turks, the Moguls, the Portuguese, the British, the French, the Dutch, all of them came and looted us, took over what was ours. Yet we have not done this to any other nation.

We have not conquered anyone.We have not grabbed their land, their culture, and their history and tried to enforce our way of life on them. Why? Because we respect the freedom of others.

That is why my first vision is that of FREEDOM. I believe that India got its first vision of this in 1857, when we started the war of independence. It is this freedom that we must protect and nurture and build on.

If we are not free, no one will respect us. My second vision for India is DEVELOPMENT. For fifty years we have been a developing nation. It is time we see ourselves as a developed nation. We are among top 5 nations of the world in terms of GDP. We have 10 percent growth rate in most areas. Our poverty levels are falling. Our achievements are being globally recognized today.

Yet we lack the self-confidence to see ourselves as a developed nation, self- reliant and self-assured. Isn't this incorrect?

I have a third vision. India must stand up to the world. Because I believe that, unless India stands up to the world, no one will respect us. Only STRENGTH respects strength. We must be strong not only as a military power but also as an economic power. Both must go hand-in-hand. My good fortune was to have worked with three great minds. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai of the Dept of space, Professor Satish Dhawan, who succeeded him and Dr Brahm Prakash, father of nuclear material. I was lucky to have worked with all three of them closely and consider this the great opportunity of my life.

I see four milestones in my career: Twenty years I spent in ISRO. I was given the opportunity to be the project director for India's first satellite launch vehicle, SLV3. The one that launched Rohini. These years played a very important role in my life of Scientist.

After my ISRO years, I joined DRDO and got a chance to be the part of India's guided missile program. It was my second bliss when Agni met its mission requirements in 1994. The Dept of Atomic Energy and DRDO had this tremendous partnership in the recent nuclear tests, on May 11 and 13. This was the third bliss.

The joy of participating with my team in these nuclear tests and proving to the world that India can make it, that we are no longer a developing nation but one of them. It made me feel very proud as an Indian. The fact that we have now developed for Agni a re-entry structure, for which we have developed this new material. A very light material called carbon-carbon.

One day an orthopedic surgeon from Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences visited my laboratory. He lifted the material and found it so light that he took me to his hospital and showed me his patients. There were these little girls and boys with heavy metallic calipers weighing over three Kg. each, dragging their feet around.

He said to me: Please remove the pain of my patients. In three weeks, we made these Floor reaction Orthosis 300-gram calipers and took them to the orthopedic center. The children didn't believe their eyes. From dragging around a three kg. load on their legs, they could now move around. Their parents had tears in their eyes. That was my fourth bliss!



Why is the media here so negative? Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognize our own strengths, our achievements? We are such a great nation. We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them. Why?

We are the first in milk production.
We are number one in Remote sensing satellites.
We are the second largest producer of wheat.
We are the second largest producer of rice.

Look at Dr Sudarshan, he has transferred the tribal village into a self-sustaining, self-driving unit. There are millions of such achievements but our media is only obsessed in the bad news and failures and disasters.

I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. It was the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths had taken place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of the newspaper had the picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed his desert into an orchid and a granary. It was this inspiring picture that everyone woke up to. The gory details of killings, bombardments, deaths, were inside in the newspaper, buried among other news.

In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime. Why are we so NEGATIVE? Another question: Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things? We want foreign TVs, we want foreign shirts. We want foreign technology. Why this obsession with everything imported. Do we not realize that self-respect comes with self-reliance?

I was in Hyderabad giving this lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph. I asked her what her goal in life is. She replied: I want to live in a developed India. For her, you and I will have to build this developed India You must proclaim. India is not an under-developed nation; it is a highly developed nation.


Do you have 10 minutes? Allow me to come back with a vengeance.

Got 10 minutes for your country? If yes, then read; otherwise, choice is yours.


YOU say that our government is inefficient.
YOU say that our laws are too old.
YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.
YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke,
The airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their destination.

YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits. YOU say, say and say. What do YOU do about it?

Take a person on his way to Singapore. Give him a name-YOURS. Give him a face - YOURS.

YOU walk out of the airport and you are at your International best. In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the stores. YOU are as proud of their Underground links as they are. You pay $5 (approx Rs 60) to drive through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim Causeway or Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM.

YOU come back to the parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you have over stayed in a restaurant or a shopping mall irrespective of your status identity.

In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU?

YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai. YOU would not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah. YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in London at 10 pounds (Rs 650) a month to, "see to it that my STD and ISD calls are billed to someone else." YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 km/h) in Washington and then tell the traffic cop, "Jaanta hai main kaun hoon (Do you know who I am?). I am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost."

YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand.

Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo? Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston???

We are still talking of the same YOU.

YOU who can respect and conform to a foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own. You who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you touch Indian ground. If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien country, why cannot you be the same here in India?

Once in an interview, the famous Ex-municipal commissioner of Bombay, Mr Tinaikar, had a point to make. "Rich people's dogs are walked on the streets to leave their affluent droppings all over the place," he said. "And then the same people turn around to criticize and blame the authorities for inefficiency and dirty pavements. What do they expect the officers to do? Go down with a broom every time their dog feels the pressure in his bowels? In America every dog owner has to clean up after his pet has done the job. Same in Japan. Will the Indian citizen do that here?" He's right.

We go to the polls to choose a government and after that forfeit all responsibility. We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative.

We expect the government to clean up but we are not going to stop chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick a up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin. We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to learn the proper use of bathrooms. We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least opportunity.

This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass on the service to the public. When it comes to burning social issues like those related to women, dowry, girl child! and others, we make loud drawing room protestations and continue to do the reverse at home. Our excuse? "It's the whole system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone forego my sons' rights to a dowry." So who's going to change the system?

What does a system consist of? Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbours, other households, other cities, other communities and the government. But definitely not me and YOU.

When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the system we lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look into the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr Clean to come along & work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or we leave the country and run away. Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to America to bask in their glory and praise their system.When New York becomes insecure we run to England. When England experiences unemployment, we take the next flight out to the Gulf. When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought home by the Indian government.

Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country. Nobody thinks of feeding the system. Our conscience is mortgaged to money.

Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive, calls for a great deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too.... I am echoing J F Kennedy's words to his fellow Americans to relate to Indians????

"ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY"

Lets do what India needs from us. Forward this mail to each Indian for a change instead of sending Jokes or junk mails.

Thank you,

Dr Abdul Kalaam
(PRESIDENT OF INDIA)

Chandramukhi...first day :-)

Thalaivar padam...paathutten.... :-))

A long wait of 3 years for all Rajini fans after the
infamous Baba...

Went to the movie first day...4:30 show....after
mailing my team that I had urgent personal work and I
am leaving early ;-)

The multiplex here in Bangalore wouldnt have seen such
celebration before. The fans were having a gala time.
There were lots of crackers, people dancing around,
big garland over thalaivar's cut out, lots of posters
stating "There is one sun, there is one moon and there
is only one superstar!"

The atmosphere was electric as any other first day of
a Rajini film. We went as a gang of around 10 people
and had lots of fun with whistling, shouting, etc.
Most of the people there were Software Engrs who cud
be identified with the famous tags hanging around
their necks. But everyone was enjoying without any
restraints.

Now to the movie...

The entry of Rajini was too cool...the customary
initial fight started...and the clapping, the whistles
and the shouts...u must live thru it to enjoy it.

Unlike his recent movies, Rajini doesnt have a 'punch'
dialogue in the movie, no political message and he
even doesnt smoke once! Actually in the first scene
when he throws and catches something in the mouth, it
turns out to be a chewing gum and not a cigar as many
expected.

The movie is lively and moves at a fairly fast pace.
The traditional intro song for thalaivar is there.
'Devuda Devuda' - u like it as u hear it more and
more. The dancing was vintage Rajini (The hand on hip
step
will never ever get old!).

The story is based on the 1993 Malayalam movie
'Manichitrathazhu' which won awards for both Shobana
and Mohanlal.

The storyline is strong here unlike many other recent
Rajini movies. The story starts with a haunted palace
in Vettayapuram and a 150-year-old legend. A king,
Vettayaraja, lusts for a beautiful dancer,
Chandramukhi, and forces her to be his mistress. But
she continues her relationship with her lover. When
the king finds out, he beheads the lover and burns her
alive. But her soul lives on for revenge. A 30 feet
snake, life-size portraits, jewels and costumes keep
the legend alive.

Senthil(Prabhu) and Ganga(Jyothika) buy the palace.
They stay there along with their family (Nasser,
Malavika, Vadivelu and others) and Senthil's friend
Saravanan (Rajini), who is a leading psychiatrist
(gold medalist) from USA. Vijayakumar is the gardener
of the palace and Durga (Nayanthara) is his 'paethi'
and she conducts 'paatu' classes.

Problems start when several untoward things start
happening in the house - two attempts on Senthil's
life, Ganga's saree catching fire, etc.

How these problems are related to the legend
Chandramukhi and how Saravanan solves these problems
with his expertise in psychiatry with help from a
poojari and from Vineet(a dance professor) forms the
rest of the story.

The film has an exciting second half and the story
builds up to a thrilling climax.

Jyothika steals the show here. Her usual over-the-top
acting is missing in the movie and she has given a
good performance. She is horrendous in the climax
especially when she yells out "laka..laka..laka..".

Rajini, though looks old in certain scenes, has done
well to conceal his age in the movie and is very
energetic. He has even got his costumes designed very
youthfully. But his voice has lost that 'zing' which
is a major part of his superstar personality.

Prabhu is subdued in the movie, as expected in any
Rajini movie.

Nayanthara has very little to do in the movie except
sing a duet with the superstar. But she does look
cute.

Comedy always has a prominent role in Rajini's movies
and Chandramukhi is no exception. Rajini's scenes with
Vadivelu are good especially the scene where Vadivelu
is left alone in the eerie palace is hilarious. But
there are a few double-meaning dialogues, which was
never a part of any Rajini movie earlier.

The music by Vidyasagar is good. I should also say
that the background score and the sound effects needed
in the haunted palace has been done well.

Overall the movie satisfies you when you walk out of
the movie hall. Though this movie doesnt have the
usual masala seen in Rajini movies, it more than
compensates by its story.

Rajini is back with a bang to prove that he has lost
none of his charm and charisma, not to mention his
huge fan-following. This film should be a huge hit !!


Hubbbbbbbaaaaaaa...that was quite a loooooooooong
review. But thalaivara patthi ezhudha aarambicha udane
andha flowla adhuvaaa kottiduchu....

Visit to Nagapattinam, Karaikkal and Velankanni

I had been to Nagapattinam, Karaikkal and Velankanni for 4 days with a couple of my colleagues and few other people from outside. We were taken by an NGO.

We went there on Tuesday night (Wed 3am). The NGO (human Rights Protection Front) that took us was more interested in taking pictures and making news about itself as an organisation rather than planning and co-ordinating some relief work. It was sad that there are organisations like these at this point of time.

We broke up with them and registered ourselves as freelance volunteers with the NGO coordination committee in the collector's office. These guys were doing amazingly well in coordinating and planning and executing the relief work. There are hundreds of NGOs lined up in Nagapattinam doing relief work. There is no shortage of stocks or funds. In fact there is quite a bit of excess rice and dal.

First day our group was asked to go to a relief camp and spend some time with the kids. We played cricket and football with the kids. There was an American, who had come to Bangalore to start a BPO, in our group. The children had a nice time with him and they enjoyed the evening.

The next day we went out to various villages to collect reports about the relief materials that have reached them and the materials that they need. These reports were submitted to the NGO coordination committee so that they could arrange for the required materials to be delivered the next day.

On this day we got to interact with the villagers directly and we visited places of ruins which had once been their homes. Villages around Nagapattinam have been the worst hit. The scenes that you get to see there are really devastating.

The government has acted fast and acted well. They have built temporary shelters wherever possible. There are lotof camps all over the villages. Each camp has a couple of people appointed for cooking food. They get a good supply of rice and dal. Other than that the NGOs are doing a great job of distributing mats, bed sheets, stoves and all other essential things. All these false stories by SUN TV that nothing has reached the people is all total bullshit. It is a pity that these people are playing petty politics at this juncture.

The people were just plainly afraid to stay in their homes any more. We were just talking to people and sort of counselling them that they need not be afraid of the sea and tsunamis come only once in hundreds of years and warning systems are now in place etc.

What people in many villages told us was that more than the rice and dal they get, they wanted to get back their fishing equipment so that these people can get back to their normal life. But this might take a lot of time as the good boats cost around Rs.75,000 each.

There were some unfortunate things happening there as well.

The upper caste people had sent out the harijans from the relief camps. They didnt want them staying with them. These people have come out and started a camp of their own. But these people dont get as much supplies as the other camps. This was really pathetic and we gave whatever stuff we carried with us to this camp.

The other worse thing that was happening was some of the govt. officials taking away stuff that have come for relief. Some of you must have seen Burkha Dutt of NDTV with a camera chasing a govt official who was unloading stuff in his private place. The police have also done their part of taking stuff from the trucks. These people dont seem to have any conscience. But overall the collector's office is doing a great job and things are moving real fast.


The next day we took up a village called 'Vellaikoil' and we decided to clean up the place with the help of local people. Some people had become slightly lazy now that they get food when they are sitting simply. But they did not even have a knife to clean up the place. Everything had been washed away. So we got some tools like shovel, crowbar, sickle (adhaan namma manvetti, gadapaarai, aruvaa) and took some volunteers from their group and cleaned up some part of the village i.e. some houses that could still be used for living. We wanted to do this as this could keep them busy and they could get away from their usual routine of sitting around and chatting about tsunami over and over again. We gave them the tools so that they could continue cleaning things up. Hopefully some of them would get back their homes this way.

The stories that we get to hear over there from people really haunts us for quite some time. There was a little girl of 6 years who was smiling all the time. She was caught in the tsunami and had clung to the roof using a small rope and had got on top of the roof. She had water to her waist while standing on the roof. There are hundreds of stories like this.

The farmers who were waiting for the harvest during pongal time have lost all the 6 months work. These lands cannot be used for cultivation for at least another year as salt water has entered deep into it.

The desperate cry of these people who have lost every single thing except their lives just moves our hearts.

Though we cannot bring back lost lives, we can certainly hope that these people get back their livelihood as soon as possible. The government is taking this as an opportunity to build them better houses and that is a good gesture. Hopefully things will improve for them soon.