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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Condolences Dear Leo. Just now I have gone through the Dedication and tribute to Abdul Kalam. It is presented beautifully. I again appreciate the manner it is presented. Wrote age is very neat and bears a clear picture of respect to an Hon,ble personality. Thank you again for your beautiful workmanship. Maitreyee ------------------------------------------------------ Региональное отделение «ГСГ-Казахстан» глубоко скорбит по поводу смерти индийского ученого и государственного деятеля, Творца мировой Гармонии, доктора Абдул Калама и выражает искренние соболезнования семье, друзьям, коллегам и всем членам Глобального Союза Гармонии. Вся научная, политическая и общественная деятельность Абдул Калама была посвящена утверждению гармоничного мировоззрения, открывающего путь гармоничному развитию человечества. Доктор Абдул Каламвнес огромный вклад не только в прогресс своей страны, но и в мировую культуру, являлся одним из основоположников НГМ и соавтором Всемирного учебника "Азбука Гармонии», призывавшим своих современников к нравственному обновлению ради будущего. Искреннеи глубоко сожалеем по поводу этой невосполнимой утраты. Ураз Баймурадов, академик, Президент ГСГ-Казахстан -------------------------------------------------------------------- Я присоединяюсь скорбной миссии по поводу невосполнимой утраты великолепного рыцаря мировой гармонии. Только с подвижничество именно таких творцов Азбуки Гармонии каковым был Абдул Калам мир во всём мире будет торжествовать. Человечеству нет альтернативы любви к себе подобному, с тем чтобы не сподобиться братоубийцам как в некоторых не столь далёких регионах... Так же как Абдул Калам способствовал мирному, гармоничному сосуществованию соседствующих Индии и Пакистана, мы - его сподвижники по ГСГ должны и обязаны остановить кровопролитие между соотечественниками и братскими народами на нашей любимой Украине. Да, пусть покоена душа нашего брата Абдула Калама в ином мире! Его дух не сломлен, ибо он ушёл туда, находясь в строю - на службе у алтаря Гармоничного светлого будущего человеческой цивилизации. Аминь! От имени соратников ГСГ-Казахстан Дауренбек АУБАКИР -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I come with my breath to give my condolences to the family and to his friends and I feel sorry for such a lost. Humanity needs people and lifes like his. Bella Clara Ventura ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- DrKalamwas more a pious saint who worked for humanity ,harmony and peace . His speeches will enlighten future generations to come .I had been lucky to work under him for a briefperiod for missile projectand learntapplication ofmodern management practices in EngineeringProject Monitoring . He will inspire all young and old. Ramesh Kumar ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Leo and All. We all should condole the sudden demise of the President of India HON,DLE ABDUL KALAM, while delivering lecture in Shillong , Meghalaya. India. Maitreyee ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear ambassador Leo Semashko It is always with great sadness that we feel the loss of a person who has all his life working for peace! Us keep in mind his work around the world! rest his soul and keep his memory deep in our hearts! Gabrielle Simond, President
Born on 15th October 1931 at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, graduated in Science from He was responsible for the evolution of ISRO's launch vehicle programme, particularly the PSLV configuration. After working for two decades in ISRO and mastering launch vehicle technologies, Dr. Kalam took up the responsibility of developing Indigenous Guided Missiles at Defence Research and Development Organisation as the Chief Executive of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). He was responsible for the development and operationalisation of AGNI and PRITHVI Missiles and for building indigenous capability in critical technologies through networking of multiple institutions. one of his significant contribution was creating Research Centre Imarath for advanced technologies. He was the Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister and Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development from July 1992 to December 1999. During this period he led to the weaponisation of strategic missile systems and the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in collaboration with Department of Atomic Energy, which made As Chairman of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) and as an eminent scientist, he led the country with the help of 500 experts to arrive at Technology Vision 2020 giving a road map for transforming In the bio-medical area, Dr. Kalam along with his team collaborated with medical specialists in the development of Kalam-Raju stent during 1994 - 1996. Kalam-Raju cardiac stent after qualification trials has been fitted to many needy patients.This development has further led to the creation of a production unit of state-of-the-art stents. Also, he had initiated the use of carbon-carbon and carbon-polymer materials for production of floor reaction orthosis calipers which has reduced the weight of the caliper to 1/10th of the original weight during 1995 – 1996. Over 50,000 children have been fitted with these calipers. Dr. Kalam took up academic pursuit as Professor, Technology & Societal Transformation at Dr. Kalam is passionate about bringing rural prosperity through PURA (Providing Urban Amenities to Rural Areas), in which science and technology has to play a key role. Based on his diverse experience he has been propagating the concept of World Knowledge Platform through which the core competencies of organizations and nations can be synergized to innovate and create solutions and products for the challenges of 21st century. In his literary pursuit Dr. Kalam authored a number ofbooks, such as"Wings of Fire", "India 2020 - A Vision for the New Millennium", "My journey" and "Ignited Minds - Unleashing the power within India", “Indomitable Spirit”, “Guiding Soul”, “Envisioning an Empowered Nation”, “Inspiring Thoughts”, “Children Ask Kalam”, “You are born to blossom”, “Family and the Nation”, “Life Tree” and “The Luminous Sparks” a collection of his poems.Many of themhave become household names in Dr. Kalam is one of the most distinguished scientists of He has been awarded with the coveted civilian awards - Padma Bhushan (1981) and Padma Vibhushan (1990) and the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna (1997). He is a recipient of several other awards and Fellow of many professional institutions. Dr. Kalam became the 11th President of Republic of India on 25th July 2002. After five eventful years he demitted office on 25th July 2007.His focus is on transforming Citizens of Earth! Global Harmony Association (GHA) Since 2005, GHA is an international NGO uniting more than 460 members in 56 countries and more than one million participants from the GHA collective members in 80 countries. GHA Founder and President: Dr. Leo Semashko Address: Telephone: +7 (812) 597-65-71, Email: leo.semashko@gmail.com GHA 1st Vice-president: Dr. Ernesto Kahan, GHA-USA President: Dr. Laj Utreja GHA-India Honorary President: Kanak Mal Dugar GHA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 14, 2011 Global Harmony Association (GHA) confers the GHA High Honor World Harmony Creator on Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam GHA Honorary Member since 2005 President of On his 80th birthday, October 15, 2011 For an unprecedented contribution to Global harmony, expressed in: •Strengthening world peace through global harmony •Reviving national culture, education and economics of India •Creating world poetry of harmony based on national traditions •Including wonderful poems and articles of harmony in the ABC of Harmony •Leading All scientific, educational and political activities of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam are devoted to providing a harmonious worldview and thinking pertaining to national and global problems and thereby opening the way for a harmonious civilization of humankind. Harmonious Civilization
I strongly support to declare Dr Abdul Kalam as World Harmony Creator Dr Abdul Kalam is a great poet, spiritual person, democratic and very nice. I had the opportunity to know him in Inspired by him I wrote the following poem: Peace and Prosperity Ernesto Kahan, Taiwan 2010 I am going to search the youth decade, their dreams, their prospect and hope... I am going to walk with the lyric of the poet Abdul Kalam, embracing his shining vision of nature in spring and sparking new fresh air in love. Oh magnificent symphony of harmony and novel lights illuminating the routes of the dreamed blue sky. Oh those tolerant days for the youth… for the human race!!! I am going to ask what did I learn from that decade and how will we be elevated to that hill to receive the light from the brilliant star and to care for our injured natural being, …… to get the answer: -…walking with you my loved one, with you, loved tolerance and pure heart, as were touched by poet Yu Hsi… through the roads of education and the culture for peace. 08/10/11
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Abdul Kalam’s poetry is permeated by the two main images: the tree of life in all its richness, and harmony, as the root of the tree of human and society. Hence the title of his page is: "Abdul Kalam: Life Tree from Harmony" Poetry THE LIFE TREE ** (Composed in celebration of Human Life) Oh, my human race, How, we were born, In the Universe of near infinity, Are we alone? I was seeking answer for the great Question of creation, weighing heavy My mind as I am in seventieth orbit Around sun, my little habitat, the star Where my race living, lived billions of years And will live billions of years, till the sun shines. This is the millennium question of humanity, And sought the help of our creator. On the eventful day, I was flying The earth below me, the human habitat Vanished in the white river of cloud, Silent, turbulent free everywhere the divine Splendour reflecting. On the above, the full moon with its magnificent might, My heart melted, my friend co-passenger Vidyasagar joined in the heavenly display. The beauty entered into our soul And blossomed happiness into our mind and body. We the humanity bowed to the heavenly answer, We are not alone, billion of billion of lives Of various forms spring in the planets of Galaxy after galaxies. Then the dawn of divine message. There was the divine echo in the full moon night From my creator. Shaken, bewildered and wondered The echo engulfed me and my race “You, the human race is the best of my creation You will live and live. You give and give till you are united, In human happiness and pain. My bliss will be born in you Love is continuum. That is the mission of humanity, You will see every day in Life Tree You learn and learn My best ofcreations.” Beautiful morning it was, Sun radiating, driving away the clouds Parrots and Kokilas were at their musical flight We the yellow heaven group entered Flower garden of Asiad Roses were in their splendour Radiating beauty in White and Crimson Bowing to the dawn of sun We walked and walked, our feet on the green Meadow giving velvet touch, Children somewhere ringing in unison in their innocence Peacocks in the background giving beautiful display. There was a majestic scene of Life Tree Cluster of tall and straight Nag phalli grove Undaunted to the sun rays direction Multi layered, each flower plant bubbling with life, We approached very close to the happy plants Astonished to see the nature’s wonder. Bottom layers have shed the flower all around the sand Whereas mid layer flower blossomed In number to the magnificence Perfume radiating, beauty all around Honey bees filling the flower bed, mutual love flowing Intoxicated with the scene, we looked at the top layer Ring of the buds about to blossom And new layers at their birth. Again the great divine echo enters all around us “Flowers blossom, radiate beauty and spread perfume And give honey.On the eve of life Flowers silently fall to the earth, they belong. Oh my creation this is mission of human life You are born, live life of giving And bond the human life Your mission is the Life Tree. My blessings to you my creation”. Oh my human race Let’s sing the song of creation. ** original in Tamil 14 January 2001 (Published in the Book of Poems “Life Tree” by Penguin Books ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My National Prayer Drawing by Shri Manav Gupta The grand Scene of birth of Independent India The rejoice everywhere, happiness all around, The father of the nation, Mahatma, walking bare footed Create thoughts in the minds of my people, Help all the leaders of my country to give strength Oh Almighty, bless all my people to work and transform A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Cranes and seagulls were wandering the sky, Sea waves laughing and teasing the shore. Musing my school days my mind leapt five decades, A small school in Rameshwaram town... Hindu or Muslim, mosque or temple, None of those divisions nagging the thinking; Ramanathan and I, weaving words together, Harmonious delight of Creator's children. Suddenly a storm arrived unannounced. Turbaned and tweedy, known as new teacher, Asked us to sit away awkwardly from each other, My tears dripped; Ramanathan wept, Nor did we get the meaning of that separation. Sunbeams saw through the sorrowful mood, Silently lighting our tears into gems. Creator of all, aren't You there? Who is this one separates us here? Years rolled by...yet we remained friends, Sharing the sorrows and joys of yore. The socalled educated separate our souls, Sowing the seeds of discord and poison. They give not knowledge but hate and defeat; Tell others not to heed their unwanted advice, As the Almighty created all equal and free. From: APJ Abdul Kalam, The Life Tree (New Delhi:Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd.,2005, p. 15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Whispers ofJasmineBreezy dawn crackling birdsJasmine groove my walking trackFragrance in air yet noisy alley Creepers dancing to tunes of cuckoos Burst of wind threw a strand on path Taken aback just for a momentBees are back, just about their work Even on the floored jasmine flowers Dreading that I might tread on the creeper Gently I take a circuitous route Whispersfrom creeper touches my soul Halting my gait caring to listen Toddler bud talking to mother Why should we blossom asketh that bud Plucked and treated shabby by humans Even the President just avoidedtreading Hearing the child laughed the mother Laughed andLaughed and Laughed!! Look my child why do birds sing See that lawn peacocks dancing Jumping deers dancing to winds Water birds washing their feathers As they go gliding fashioning the fathom All these beauty adding to scene Joyous nature’s bounteous ways Enables humans to listen their heart If deers skip jumping and peacocks miss dancing Beautiful Water birds duck thy swimming Soulful music nether heard nor sung Flowers fragrance and cheers of their colours If all we avoid humans of earth Harder in souls harsher in tongue Violence pervading walks of life Abrasive thinking vicious in deed Disturbed homes turbulence in world Wanting to ward off all these hells God willed a happier world To the chiming beats of musical vibranceShenoi and Sarod,Veena and Tabla All these permeat and softens the soul Just like dancing peacocks singing parrots Jumping deers gliding ducks Smell of roses, daisy and lily Lotus andjasmine caressing soul Making the world a place to live To mould humans, as humans in deed But for nature hearts harden Wickedness permeates even the souls ‘Tis God’s will gladden thy soul Blossom we will !!Blossom we will !! Cheers my baby !! Blossom we will !! (Composed during one of my usual morning walks at Rashtrapati Bhavan (President’s House) ----------------------------------------------------------------- The great city of I heard Song of Unity in the streets Of harmony in the island! Ancient city of I walked and walked every step, People of Malay, Muslims, Chinese, Christians Together walked with me with Pride and peace The bell of St. George Church, Gave the glad tidings with a message, Forgive the human failing Give and give the hope of success. I entered the Kuan Yin temple With fragrance, the message radiating, Remove “I” and “Me”! That will eliminate human ego. What a beautiful reception With a great music of Nadaswaram recital in the Sri Mahamariamman temple; The temple gave a message All places are our own, people of universe Are our kith and kin. The Teochew temple gave me a smile With a message ‘if you remove “ego” Hatred will disappear; In the great mosque participated in prayer With a Quranic recitation “Oh Almighty lead us the path of righteousness” The Yap Kongsi, temple gave me The welcome song “eliminate harted, Violence will disappear. In another temple Kho Kongsi led us to the path Remove the violence in mind, peace in life will be filled with. The Acheh Mosque gave us the message Message of removing the pain Of fellow human beings! This is Almighty’s Command! When I completed my pilgrimage The streets of Harmony of Penang. Presented an integrated spiritual centre With message to the Universe. Every human being will give and give The best of human societies will be born. [Poem composed on 30th August 2008 on return from my tour of Penang-Malaysia. For visiting the various religious places in the street of harmony there were number of cars, but seeing the large gathering of people, I walked with them to each place of worship] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Peace and Prosperity of the world This decade met millions of youth What did I learn from the youth decade? Youth have the dream, Youth have the pain, Youth have the power. Our future, the foundation of the future, Youth and youth, the youth dream: Can they live in a clean green environment without pollution. Prosperity without poverty, Experience peace without fear of war And happily live in peace, world wide. The world needs the great vision of peace and prosperity? Peace and prosperity of all the nations of the planet Earth. How to make it, such a vision, a reality? I see a dawn of beautiful Star, The dawn of shining vision, The emergence of enlightened citizens. The enlightened citizens engulf all the nations Acquiring Education with value system, Bridging spirituality of every religion. And enabling the birth of poverty free world. All weaving into a beautiful mission of life The youth seeing the birth of a great star Radiating peace and prosperity of the world. 30 November 2010, (Presented at XXXth World Congress of Poets at ----------------------------------------------------------------- Oceans Meet “I am the Born out of the shining water of the O my fellow What is your origin and where do you live?” “Dear Ramy, they call me – the beautiful I live like a beautiful flower seeing the early sun-rise, Sitting in the gardens of magnificent oceans of the Pacific, As the deepest waves of the noble ocean scatter around me.” “O friend, my dear friend – I greet you with a heart brimming with joy. My vast ocean embraces a land of ancient religions, culture and divine wisdom, It is the soil where enlightened one – Lord Buddha once walked upon.” “O Ramy! You are indeed showered with blessings divine, Garlanding around me are nations with billions of human souls, It was, the land and the nation which I call mine, That gave birth to the wisest sage, Confucius who shaped human thought in noble roles.” And then, the two great humble oceans prayed and prayed, The two noble sages, then descended like angels upon the Sangam [2], The magnificent oceans then with veneration asked the heavenly souls, To glorify the earth with their wisdom like they did two millennia ago. The waves of gracious smiles from them merged with peace into each other, As they waited for the sages to ponder and illuminate with their knowledge. The mighty oceans sat patiently with clasped watery hands, As they swell and fell with each stroke of unfailing tide. And then with the radiant sun shining behind them spreading day, The sages smiled graciously as they began to say, Their voice echoed from the horizon filling the anxious sky, Time froze as the message of human glory and peace expanded to occupy the void. The wisest sage, Confucius said, “We are with two oceans who nurture half of humanity, We came to the planet earth in the same century, And gave the message of humanity and peace. O enlightened one! O Lord Buddha, Can you tell the world, how they can live, With universal peace and prosperity for all?” Buddha smiled with serene tranquility, “God gifted humans with intelligence and the tool of reason, It is for man to harness the might of the divine gift, To prosper towards a life of goodness and truth.” The wisest sage, the holy master then agreed, “O enlightened one! Your thoughts are unique, Humans are indeed entrusted the great mission, Of realizing with body, mind and soul – the God’s vision”. Then our Humbly joined their voices from the heart, As they prayed and prayed again, Beseeching the divines to give a message of human renaissance. Again a deep silence engulfed the universe, The cosmos seemed to be filled with energy, The waves from both the oceans went violently high, And gently touched the feet of divinity with beautiful shehnai [3] playing: (O planet, what a past and what a present you possess, And when they come together, greeting like us two seas, They create the future, future of peace and prosperity for all) “O wisest sage, Confucius! You have preached and preached to peasants and herders in Lu, You preached the value of family life and that of righteousness in the heart, And O enlightened one! Under the sprawling Bodhi tree, You proclaimed – where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character”. The wise sage then said, “Yes I will sing now! When there is beauty in the character, There is harmony in the home” The enlightened one, the Buddha added, “When there is harmony in the home, There is order in the nation, When there is order in the nation There is peace in the world”. In chorus, the two great sages wise and enlightened, Blessed humanity with the song of life righteousness, For world peace and prosperity for all. The The waves and winds joined to sing the song of life in Sri Raga [4], [1] [2] Sangam : Confluence of two water bodies [3] Shehnai : an Indian musical instrument often played in auspicious occasions [4] Sri Raga : A Raga in Indian music [5] Om Shanthi : Divine peace for the world in language [6] He-ping : world peace (Chinese) [Poem presented at theXXX World Congress of Poets held at ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, DR APJ ABDUL KALAM (at the left), ACCEPTS THE BOOK OF CRITICISM on THE POETRY OF DR R.K.SINGH, WHO HAS REVIEWED (below) THE LATEST COLLECTION OF DR KALAM, The Life Tree. ALSO, PRESENT ALONG WITH THEM IS DR Y. S. RAJAN, POET, SCIENTIST AND PRINCIPAL ADVISER TO THE CONFEDERATION OF INDIAN INDUSTRIES AND CLOSE ASSOCIATE WITH DR KALAM July 2005 THE LIFE TREE:APJABDUL KALAM’SLATEST COLLECTION THELIFETREE : POEMSby A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Reviewed by Dr. R.K.Singh The Life Tree is the latest addition to A.P.J. AbdulKalam’smegabytes of fame.His twenty-six poems, originally composed in English, and/or translated from the Tamil original by Mani Darshi, fuse a formidable discourse, which is personal and public at the same time. As the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whose excellence as a poet is already established, notes in the Foreword, President Abdul Kalam“has contributed invaluably to our country’s progress in space research and defense technologies….He is also a sensitive and thoughtful poet. This confluence of scientific brilliance and poetic talent is truly unique.”In The Life Tree, the scientist’s vision intersects the poet’s, as Abdul Kalam deciphers his own humble past and relates it to the nation’s great future. While the cause of the nation dominates his consciousness, he presents a humanist view of his personal, technological and social domains as ‘mirror of the soul’ to underscore resurgence of a potent Indian identity in the world. The poet’s aesthetic focus relates to nation building, through a celebration of Indian science and technology, secular culture, human values, and love for nature.He asserts his conviction that the act of creating, be it poetry, science or engineering, is a basic human capacity which needs to be nurtured.Integrative and interdisciplinary as his genius is, he maintains the dynamics of changes at various levels and links his consciousness to higher emotions, making his poetry an instance of the basic urge in human beings to create aesthetic significance, merging arts, nature, and sciences. APJ Abdul Kalam indicts unthinking, mindless adherence to fundamentalist, religious, casteist, and narrow social systems that disrupt harmonious relationship.His poems of love, faith and optimism in The Life Tree bespeak his innate humanity, selflessness and dedication for transforming Indian society.He seeks to ignite every soul with dream and passion that “will keep the lamp of knowledge burning/To achieve the vision – Developed India.”Abdul Kalam, the visionary scientist poet, is convinced: “If we work and sweat for the great vision with ignited mind, The transformation leading to the birth Of a vibrant, developed And, this is his prayer too. He exploits the medium of poetry, articulating subjective experience and meaning, to ensure promotion of excellence with focus on three main areas—education, research and performance—for emergence of a new Developed India.“We want to work for our nation/With our sweat enrich the great land of ours,” asserts the poet.He assimilates new ideas from the contemporary sciences whilst embracing traditional, spiritual and artistic aspects of human experience.He celebrates innovations and indigenous knowledge just as he empathizes with the deprived and poor. The poet, sad to see waves of communalism and violence, sings the “song of creation” in one of his visionary moods, and feels the “divine splendour reflecting …the heavenly answer”: “You, the human race is the best of my creation, You will live and live. You give and give till you are united, In human happiness and pain; My bliss will be born in you. Love is continuum, That is the mission of humanity, You will see everyday in Life Tree. You learn and learn My best of creations.” The poet President of India passionately voices the divine knowledge for humankind, the best of Nature’s creations, when he envisions the country as a leader in the emerging Knowledge Society.He sees the Life Tree growing with the mantra: “learn and learn.”(Elsewhere he prays to Almighty “to light the lamp of knowledge” and “grant us a new life.”)He feels “mutual love flowing” all around with intimate belongingness of “billions of billions of lives” in various forms displayed in nature.“You give and give till you are united/In human happiness and pain,” realizes Abdul Kalam in his compassionate thinking and reflection on “nature’s wonder.” “You are born, live a life of giving And bond with ties of affection. Your mission is the Life Tree.” The metaphor of Life Tree, which provides the book its name, is rich in meaning and message.The poet turns a sage philosopher and devotee, reasoning out the future of As a poet he seems to be engaged in changing tastes and beliefs from within: His style of poetry seems to stress the need for implicit persuasion to reorient individual, personal, institutional, or public norms, social actions, and roles, making best use of knowledge today.He effectively proves poetry is not only language but it is also articulation of a people’s greatness, achievements, hopes and aspirations, and of common sense.He sets out a new poetics and himself stands out as a leader poet.His aesthetics conforms to his personal experiences, intuitions, and interior self.With implicit presence of the scientist in him throughout, he turns remarkably creative and diverse. As a lyrical poet with patriotic fervour at the core of his personal reflections, he evinces a firm faith in God and believes in the efficacy of prayers.He seeks God’s blessings for everyone “to be with great teachers/0f high thinking” so that none have to suffer the pangs of communalism and social inequity.In the poem ‘Harmony’, for example, he recalls how a teacher had separated him from his close friend Ramanathan when they were students in standard fifth.As the teacher had failed to “comprehend a Brahmin boy and a Muslim boy sitting together” in the class, he asked the latter to move to the back bench:“My tears dripped; Ramanathan wept/…The socalled educated separate our souls,/Sowing seeds of discord and poison.”The sensitive soul of the poet knew from the beginning that the Almighty has created all equal, and free. He wants us to remember: “All men are equal and created alike/And the creator endowed them with inalienable rights/To life, to freedom, and to continued happiness.”It is important that people used their inner faculties and brain to defeat the “Satanic temptations” within and kept from communal violence that “break the cage of peace and faith.”As he stresses: “Know you all: Khuda and Ram/Both are one, blossoming in love.” The poet’s compassionate heart feels the anguish of everyone, especially the poor and needy. As he recounts, he was greatly moved when Mother Teresa was hospitalized in 1991. He prayed for her recovery because “Her heart is home for those who have none.” APJ Abdul Kalam also feels God-presence in the harmony of humans and nature: “Keep loving nature and care for its beings,/Then you can see divinity all over” ; “Beauty of consciousness trapped in peace/Blooms of flowers show Almighty in deed./…Atouch of them makes all humans go tender” ; and “Nature and humans were created together,/Together they can govern this world./Then only peace and bliss will be here.” He stands for “a valiant new order”, “freedom from fear”, communal harmony, character building, transparent honesty, self-discipline, optimism, “faith in goodness and sea-deep kindness”, “love and peace of humanity”, unity of minds, harmony of humans, natureand science, and the Life treea “I have no house, only open spaces Filled with truth, kindness, desire and dreams: Desire to see my country developed and great, Dreams to see happiness and peace abound.” The clue to the mystery of success, as he says in ‘Message’, is: “Love for your work and faith in your dreams, There is no force on earth that can shatter your dreams.” It is possible by cultivating and strengthening faith in oneself, in ones inner resources, or the creative potentials within. Some of the best poems in the volume that may stir a reader’s soul include ‘My Mother’, ‘The Life Tree’, ‘Memory’, ‘Tumult’, ‘Ancestor’s Desire’,and ‘Rock Walls’.I find in them the genuine soul-feelings of the poet. A few poems, namely, ‘The Life tree’, ‘Harmony’, ‘Pursuit of Happiness’, ‘Gratitude’, ‘Whispers of Jasmine’, ‘I am the Child of Bihar’, and ‘My National Prayer’, earlier appeared in The Luminous Spark (Bangalore: Punya Publishing, 2004), which is significant for contribution of half-a-dozen visual artists who illustrated these poemswith their brush and colours. The verbal and visual symphony enhances the appeal of some of the poems in The Life Tree too.The poet’s anecdotal notes preceding almost every poem facilitates an understanding of the fine relationship between verbal and visual forms of creative expression.While APJ Abdul Kalam creates verbal imagery, Manav Gupta renders the poet’s spirit into visual imagery with fifteen water colour paintings.Painting and poetry flow into each other, testifying to the poet’s belief that both painting and writing are forms of language. Abdul Kalam, blessed with the ‘dual muse’, provides a rich feast of the verbal and visual arts, merging aesthetic sensibility, curiosity, analysis, and interpretation. He innately appreciates the painter’s sensitivity to the visual properties of his written form and thus, enhances and reinforces his poetic effect. To conclude, The Life Tree is a poetic pioneer of the years ahead with Kalam’s personal metaphors that seek to balance linguistic and cultural gaps in conveying aspirations of the new generation.With verbal and visual experimentation, the poems in the volume provide a heightened creative experience.They not only reveal the sage scientist poet’s life, mind and spirit, but also prove that he has a strong bond between him and his media and tools which, in effect, bespeak his inner discipline and individual mastery.His newbook expands the national literary constellation, enriching the aesthetic dimension of Indian poetry in English today. Dr R.K.Singh Professor of English & Head Dept of Humanities & Social Sciences Dhanbad 826004 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Leo, Best regards Dr R.K.Singh May 27, 2005 --------------------------------------------------------------- Up |
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