Renjith Gopalkrishnan
Today, October 15th, is the birth
anniversary of one of India’s greatest son and former President, Dr. APJ Abdul
Kalam. Dr. Kalam is no more in his mortal form. But the spirit, zeal,
enthusiasm, steadfastness and genuineness he has induced in each one of us has
ignited the minds of millions of Indian citizens with his vision of making
India a developed nation by the Year 2020 AD. Dr. Kalam once remarked, “I will
keep the lamp of knowledge burning to achieve the vision - Developed India. If
we work and sweat for the great vision with ignited minds, the transformation
leading to birth of vibrant developed India will happen”.India, the land
of a thousand languages, a billion dreams and a zillion hopes, is aiming it big
today following the great man’s footstep.
And only such ignited minds can make ours a
welfare state that ensures freedom, basic amenities and equal opportunities to
all sections of the society. The dynamics of development outlined by this great seer and
nationalist envisages how right developmental patterns will enable successful
connectivity between India and the world. These deductions made by the ‘Missile
Man of India’ were not mere fanciful calculation, but the result of careful analysis
and observances.
Dr. Kalam was of the opinion that developed countries must ensure
marketing of their products in a competitive way, in order to maintain the
status. A developing country on the other hand must market products
bearing in mind quality of the products, cost-effectiveness and precision of
time in terms of supply, in order to forge its way towards success.
By observing these dynamics, India can well be transformed to a
developed state by 2020, using technology as tool. And with an obviously
swelling economy, study and competent internal market, India is obviously
destined to make competitive products using technological innovations.
Some of the core areas specified by Dr. Kalam are development of
software, pharma products, emergence of steel technology, space technology and
defense systems forging into the international arena all the way from India.
Along with this, in the former President’s own words, “The initiatives taken in
solar farming to generate energy, desalination plants to generate drinking
water will soon be mission mode programmes offering a large business in India
and outside.”
Today, the ascension of Shri Narendra Modi as India’s Prime
Minister has given priority to state-funded
research in areas like biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and automobile
manufacturing with the participation of private sector. He has waved the green
flag in exploring the feasibility of setting up research institutes in these
fields with the aid of private firms. This is a comprehensive step towards the
setting up of institutions that capacitate research, with innovation being a
global wave.
India’s vision of turning the nation into a research powerhouse
is on par with the realization of Dr APJ’s vision for the nation. This vision for an
empowered India includes a well-forged combination of natural resources and
talented manpower for integrated action to double the growth rate of GDP. And
this exactly is the panacea that is required for the realization of the dream
known as ‘Developed India’.
Sectors of agriculture and food processing, having a solid target
of doubling the present production of food and agricultural products,
infrastructure with quality electric power including solar farming throughout
the country, along with provision of urban amenities in rural areas and
interlinking of rivers; focus on education and healthcare that will provide
social security, that will go a long way in eradication of illiteracy;
providing health facilities for all; bringing information and communication technology
within the reach of every citizen etc are areas that have been highlights of
India’s new agenda.
A lot of emphasis is being laid on critical technologies and
strategic industries, which will witness the growth in nuclear technology,
space technology and defense technology. Being one of our core competencies it
will be a wealth generator as well. The government is also tapping the role of
technology in tele-education, tele-medicine and e-governance to promote
education in remote areas and healthcare.
Enhancing tourism and ensuring growth of small scale sectors, part
of Dr. Kalam’s vision for a developed India will be yet another area of focus
for the new government. The government, well aware of India's unique
positioning as a multi-dimensional country with many tourist attractions has
listed a set of proposals that will forge constructive partnership between
private and public sectors, that will ensure the growth of tourism industry.
Some of the steps towards this direction are the establishment of innovative
products and world-class infrastructure, with a revamping of the country’s
inland water navigation, hotels, and entertainment and communication sectors to
woo tourists.
Small-scale industries which currently contribute to the gross
industrial value are the prime area for creating largest employment
opportunities for Indian populace. The current millennium has seen a leap of
small-scale units from 0.87 million units in the year 1980-81 to over 3 million
in the year 2000. This is expected to grow, with greater prospects in India's
export performance.
Small-scale industrial units that contribute to a small percentage
of indirect exports which takes place through merchant exporters, trading
houses and export houses will now be part of a strategy that enhances export of
goods and services from SSI sector, which will be based on technology upgrade,
value addition techniques, credit support and export marketing zones etc. This
will include export in areas of sports goods, readymade garments, woolen garments
and knitwear, plastic products, processed food and leather products etc.
Providing urban amenities in rural areas is crucial in bringing
about overall development in the country. Villages can prosper if provided
infrastructure, industrial support and employment opportunities. India has
envisaged a 4 point connectivity programme that will ensure sustained
development in village clusters. Government also aims at successful
collaborative efforts and active participation of industries, particularly small
scale industries in ensuring provision of urban amenities in rural areas.
The Indian Prime Minister‘s speech to the Australian
Parliament in 2015 outlines his vision for a developed India: “Since the turn
of this century, India has been the second fastest growing economy in the
world. Millions have lifted themselves out of poverty into a new life of
possibilities”. It was none other than Dr. APJ’s dream on India.
Today, from the remotest village to the biggest cities,
there is a new high tide of hope in India; a new energy and hope that was laid
by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.It is the energy of our youth – the 800 million people
below the age of 35 – eager for change, willing to work for it – because, now
they believe that it is possible. That they can make it happen. It is this
force of transformation that we will unleash.
India has the potential in developing quality products in a timely
and cost effective manner, in order to become globally competitive and plunge
into entrenched market. The wealth of manpower that the country has will be
more than what is required to ensure the realization of a dream the great
visionary scientist turned President had carved out
for his motherland.
Though Dr. Kalam served in office as President of India for mere
five years, the glorious years were yet to come. After his tenure as President of
India, his real global voyages commenced. He has travelled extensively inside
and outside the nation and has ignited the minds of millions of people, from
European Parliament to remote villages, mostly the young generation. A
visionary with great ideology whose mantra was ‘world is one family’, Dr. APJ
was a true legend of our time. A great scientist, author, paramount motivator
and an excellent teacher, all these confounded in one personality, that was
Dr.Abdul Kalam. Six months before his sad demise, Dr. Kalam visited the pearl
island, the Kingdom of Bahrain in February 2015.
A royal welcome was given to this global citizen by the Kingdom.
His Majesty, King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, The King of Bahrain, His Royal
Highness Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, The Prime Minister, His Royal
Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, The Crown Prince, welcomed the
former Indian President. The Indian communities in Bahrain were also
overwhelmed by the great man’s visit and organized gala functions. The students
of various schools in Bahrain also were excited and inspired by the wisdom that
they received during interaction with him. Months later, the sad news came on
27th July 2015. While delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong, Dr. Kalam
collapsed and passed away due to a massive cardiac arrest. His last lecture was
also on a noble thought as always, “Creating a livable Planet”. He is
physically not with us today, but the immortal legacy
that Bharat Ratna Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam left over will remain forever.
