Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam requires no introduction. He
was a legend, an inspiration and a hero to all of us. We got the honor to
talk to him a few years back where he shared his views on India, space,
research and eco-friendly technology.
Vision India 2020 aimed India to be "a
nation which is the best destination for the most talented scholars, scientists
and investors". Do you think India is on the right tracks to achieve the
goal?
In the year 2008 i spoke about vision 2020 in
a high school. The people of today's generation are not in a race track and
they are not in a competitive surrounding to achieve their thoughts. Invention
in India is the big hidden treasure that is revealed only in ages. So i think
India needs a lot of improvisation in education and also in the way of
education to be a place for investors, scientists and scholars.
A curious mind nowadays looks upon the
internet as the ultimate teacher. Your comment on the online world.
I attended the Google event in India few
years back. I have two friends with me. First is internet and next is Google.
Good and bad are the best teachers. If you ignore the good it will not give you
a boon, if you ignore the bad it destroys you. Internet is the mixture of both
good and bad. Everybody is being drawn into this social networking. It includes
me also. I too joined it last year but i could not find it as a place of learning.
Online world is like a medicine; medicine is poison but if you consider it in
small amounts it will cure you or else it will destroy you.
We Indians have been discussing and
applauding ancient mythologies and Vedas for various current theories and
breakthroughs in various fields. What are your views regarding the continuous
efforts of scholars to extract hidden sciences from these works?
When the British invaded India and ruled us
for 200 years, they did many good things like building bridges, hospitals,
schools but many people thought they are invading us because of their way of
treatment against us. When they left India they not only took the peacock's
throne and the scripting too. Many people still believe that foreigners proved
that earth is round it not true. The Hinduism now present in India was the
hierarchy of the ancient Middle East. Now in many temples they have lord Vishnu
in varaha avatar having the round ball shaped structure in its horns. Its
earth; we proved that earth is round but not flat before some thousands of
years ago.
Do you think lack of
resources is one of the chief reasons of our youth laying back on international
platforms in research.
Yes, it is the main
reason. Also, giving all the resources to a person will make him spoil not
achieve. Instead of giving resources to a student, we should show the platform
and pathway that makes to earn resources on his own. A well renowned proverb
strikes my mind- "Don't feed a person with fish, tell him how to fish".
Teaching a person how to fish will feed him for his life but if you feed him
with fish you can only feed his hunger for a day.
We request you to define space rocketry in
the simplest way you've understood it after all the experiences the field has
given to you.
Not only to research and development, the
proverb suits for all. "Dedication, will power and hard work, a person
with these three qualities, sky is the limit". It was told by Milkha
Singh.
"Eco-Friendly"
is a word associated with technology nowadays. What are your suggestions for a
sustainable India?
When I was discussing with Mr. Vishnu before
two months, we spoke on sustainable energy. As an electrical engineer, he is
good at it. Without a fact of hesitation I am promoting the three way he
mentioned me; turning the waste into electricity, having individual solar or
wind power each home and using electronic gadgets for low power applications.
It will make India greener.