Incidents from the life of APJ Abdul Kalam that will surely inspire us.

Incidents from the life of APJ Abdul kalam that will surely inspire us:

Staying away from the sense of entitlement.

Dr.Kalam had gone to visit an event sponsored by Sowbhagya in August 2014. V Adikesavan, the managing director of Sowbhagya wet grinders, recalls that ”On that occasion, we gave him a grinder as a gift. He refused to accept it but said he needed one for his family and wanted to pay for it. He then sent a person to our shop with a cheque for Rs 4,850 dated August 25, 2014.”

Adhikesan had yet not encashed the cheque provided by Dr.Kalam, and so after many reminders, Adhikesan received a call after two months from Dr.Kalam’s office that if the cheque was not deposited, the gift would be returned. Finally, he deposited the cheque but not before taking a photocopy of it. His action definitely inspires us to stay away from favor arousing from your clout.

Simplicity is the ultimate SOPHISTICATION.

The Luxury that comes with title President of India is marvelous. But simplicity is a virtue that had been practiced by Dr.kalam in his lifetime. The perk of using 340 rooms did not attract him and he kept his daily chores within two to three rooms. When Cassette got stuck in the tape recorder, he didn’t listen to other’s advice of bringing in latest tech instrument like iPod or MP3 Player, but he insisted on a tape recorder to be repaired. After that everyone surrendered to his Simplicity and the tape recorder was repaired to be used again.

MODESTY IS THE BEST POLICY.

In 2013, IIT-Varanasi invited Dr.Kalam for convocation ceremony as a chief guest. But Dr.Kalam on reaching the stage refused to sit on the chair assigned to him, which was in the center chair and also slightly larger than the others. Instead, Dr.Kalam offered the chair to VC of College who obviously refused and instantly another chair was brought on stage.

The power, position, and knowledge definitely justify him sitting on a higher chair, but he knew that Humbleness is the real deal not your higher position on stage.

CARE THE COMMUNITY YOU INHABIT.

Once Dr.Kalam and his team were discussing the measurements to be taken to secure the premises that required protection. One of team members came up with a popular idea of put broken glass on the wall surrounding the premises. Dr.Kalam instantly rejected the idea by reasoning that it is harmful to birds. Dr. Kalam reportedly said: “If we do that, birds will not be able to perch on the wall.”

ALWAYS RESPECT YOUR TEACHERS.

Dr.Kalam never let go any moment to thank his teachers by visiting them or mentioning them. He tweeted his visit when Rev. Fr Ladislaus Chinnadurai, passed away. Chinnadurai taught him Physics and Thermodynamics at St Joseph's College, Tiruchi, between 1950 and 1954. He was highly influenced by work of Pj.PramukhSwami Maharaj, the then Spiritual head of BAPS. He wrote a book on his interactions with Pramukhswami called “Transcendence: My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji”.Dr Kalam writes in the book: "How do I summarize Pramukh Swamiji's effect on me? He has indeed transformed me. He is the ultimate stage of the spiritual ascent in my life, which started with my father (Jainulabdeen), was sustained by Dr Brahma Prakash and Prof Satish Dhawan (both eminent scientists at ISRO and his mentors in his own illustrious career in scientific research); now, finally, Pramukh Swamiji has put me in a God-synchronous orbit."

Always remember the contribution of the teachers in past that guided you in designing your present.