Keeping Kalam Alive
2. We have to build a compassionate society by defeating our never-ending greed. Dr Kalam said this greed comes from ‘What Can I take’. We have to instead focus on ‘What can I give’ attitude.
3. Everyone one of us should make our mother happy. Dr Kalam said ‘If a mother is happy, home is happy. If a home is happy, society is happy. If society is happy, nation is happy’.
4. We, as citizens of India, need to protect our environment. We can do it by adopting simple methods like using public transport, planting trees, using recycled materials etc.
5. We should respect the freedom of others. If we are allowed to pray, sit, eat as we wish, others should also be given the same freedom.
6. Dr Kalam was surprised at Indians’ obsession with foreign things. According to him, self-respect comes only with self-reliance. It’s high time that we should stop that and instead, use our own country’s products like Khadi, etc.
7. We all have a habit of blaming the government for everything. That’s the easiest way, of course. Rather than waiting for government to do something, we should start changing our own habits. After all, it is our country. If we don’t respect our law, our land, then who will?
8. Never ever give up, in any situation. Dr Kalam believed that failure is the first attempt to learn.
9. Always leave office on time! Yes. Dr Kalam said that life is not about work. There is more to life than that. Don’t let it be meaningless.
10. A very important message – Don’t pretend to love (That’s what we do these days). Love people with genuine affection. What is wrong is hate. So, Indians let’s just love and appreciate each other instead of bringing each other down.
11. He believed that one needs to value friendship. Success and failures come and go but friendship lasts forever.
12. Preach the message of loving one’s own country. He didn’t like the idea of Indian scientists leaving the country for monetary benefits.
13. Youngsters should write their thoughts and spread their opinions. A pen is mightier than the sword.
14. Being a creative person himself, he believed that creative minds are the future of the nation. “When learning is purposeful, creativity blossoms”.
15. Society must learn to respect teachers and honour them. According to him, the teacher has to have capacity for lifelong learning.
Let us continue his legacy. more