A fictional-but-not-so-fictional humorous conversation with Shri.Abdul Kalam, Former president of India AND Supposedly a HIGHLY PURE ‘BRAAHMAN’!

My Dear Friends-on-Mother-India and around the world,

I understood writing is indeed NOT easy as I keep succumbing to lack of concentration to use the RIGHT brain to write something meaningful and useful to humanity. However, some well-wisher or other mildly taps my shoulder to continue writing. Well, allow me to stop abruptly the Hidden Treasure Series where we have covered 11 chapters. What we have left out is ‘LIFE juices’ on Senses, Science of sex, On Self, on Revolution, On Discipline and control, On Peace, Serenity & bliss, On Prayer, meditation & Samadhi culminating with the meaning of LIFE. I understand that Almighty has intended a different path to the Hidden Treasure series now. Hopefully, in 2-3 months, we would make the full version available in Amazon for all our brethren to read and cherish the juices, anytime.

Now, my dear Indian friends, relax and enjoy the Juice(s) and the humor as well in the fictional-but-not-so-fictional ‘walk-the-talk’ that ‘yours Truly’ had with Shri.Abdul Kalam, distinguished scientist and former president of India, a HIGHLY evolved soul and a PURE ‘BRAAHMAN’!

                                                                          

Venue: IIT Madras Day: Friday 27^th April.

Ravi: Good morning Kalam ji. Your energy is infectious seeing you bubbling with energy at 5.45 AM in track suits and shoes!  - A sight to watch!

Kalam: Ravi paiya, iniya kaalai vanakkam. Look, ‘Body and brain are part of one system’. If one is affected or left unattended to, the other is also automatically affected. We know this through our shaastras. Science also conveys the same.  What ‘young brains’ have to do is to sharpen (i.e., giving food) to both body and brain in sufficient quantities to keep both in equilibrium. Most of the time we end up sharpening one alone neglecting the other and that’s where It’s Ground Zero for the Sorrow cycle to start. Do you understand, young boy?

Ravi: Crystal clear. Now, tell me something. What do you mean by ‘young brains’? Are you NOT included?

Kalam: Good Question, thambi. U see, when I mean ‘young brains’, I don’t mean the physical age or colour or creed. It means fresh brains, unfettered and unprejudiced brains, keen and sharp brains WITH body and brain being in equilibrium. Warren Buffet is an Octogenarian. Look at his sharp brain actions even now. On the contrary, painful to see young children being goaded to behave like adults under the guise of entertainment.

Ravi: Oh, I caught you! So, instead of writing poems and watching nature or writing for a speech, you are also watching ‘hip movements’ of boys and gals on the Telly? That reminds me, do you watch prime time English news on Telly?

Kalam: What to do, Ravi when all other entertainment gets bored being a ‘bachelor boy’? Hey, you have missed out one major entertainment, which is only available on LOK Sabha TV!

Ravi: Oh yes, watching the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings is awesome entertainment. Ayya, I was watching the other day with kids and was telling them ‘What to Unlearn from Elders’, not only politicians, but in general? They simply marvelled at the patience of the Speakers of both the Houses especially Meera Kumar mam! They commented that they weren’t as a spoilt brat like most of the ‘elderly kids’ in Parliament and they taught me how to raise one’s attention without shouting down on THE other’s throat!

Kalam: Yes Ravi. That’s why, I consciously prefer to be in the company of children and students. Their brain is fresh and I learn a lot from them though they think they have learnt a lot from me. Hah Ha!

Ravi: Or in other words, is that the reason why you sub-consciously you avoid addressing ‘old brains’?

Kalam: All I’m sharing is that “The ‘old brains’ may kindly rest their body and brain. It would do a world of good for them and the peace of the world at large. There are indeed many holy places like Anandashram for them to be themselves. People have a variety to choose from. Believer or a non-believer. India, that way, is a blessed land with so many options to be at peace with ourselves, atleast at the evening of our lives, which we deserve!”

Ravi: Tell me, WHEN do you think Indians in general, learn to gently ‘agree-disagree’ instead of ‘disagreeing-agree’ or blindly ‘agree-agree’ method that we follow, be in home or panchayat or parliament.

Kalam: Oh yes, Ravi. What to do? That’s a disease perpetrated because of ‘colonial’ ramifications. Only holistic Education and thereby ‘Ignited brains’ can solve this behaviour malady. It takes time, Ravi. Please be patient. Am confident that this will happen with the children of India and the world WHO are simply awesome. My only wish is that they should NOT inherit marks-money-power culture (Sic) some or many of their elder generation had with many pushing the children in that direction.

Ravi: If you were to meet the greatest Tamil Saint and scholar of all times, Shri. Thiruvalluvar NOW, what would you ask him?

Kalam: I would request him to be the President of the India. He had astounding vision and knowledge. And his couplets are applicable at all times for all humanity. Lot of Management lessons the MBA schools would NEVER teach!

Ravi: Well, well, well, that reminds me. Do you know that your name is doing the rounds and some forward-looking Mother India-loving souls are actively running campaigns on the net to bestow upon the second term for the Office of the President of India upon you! Didn’t people contact you?

Kalam: “Shall we have a break Ravi, as we walk-thru-the-woods of this lovely place?” I don’t quite understand that how a place of this stature can still be called as an ‘Institute’ while your downtown typewriting or computer teaching shops are also called Institutes. Funny, isn’t it? English is a poor man’s language. That’s why you know, I didn’t give much importance to it. Thamizh and Sanskrit are richer in meaning and more beautiful. Anyway Functional English is good enough, isn’t it? Anyway, people mock at my Tamlish pronunciation of English. What to do?

Ravi: Well said on English, your English communication is astounding. Tell me, What do you want to do in this 10 min break?

Kalam: We’ll jog 3 stretches of 100 m and let’s see who wins. Winner gets lime juice for the loser. Game?

Ravi: Ever-ready gentleman. Here we go…

‘Prime Point’ Srini na is ready with his whistle and says “Guys, On your march, GET, SET, GO…”

(Readers, Kalam pips Ravi boy to the post, winning all the three races)

Ravi: (Tired and petered) Ayya…. Saami…. where and HOW do you have all this energy?

Kalam: (Playing proudly with his hair): Simple Ravi. Result of ‘Body and brain in equilibrium’. Do you NOW understand? I like experiments, u see. Chalo, let’s start our walk again. Did you note that the lime juice we had now was also in equilibrium with the syrup, water, salt and sugar to shore up our energy?

Ravi: Yes, it was Srini na’s idea.

Kalam: No wonder he is one of the young brains, I admire.

Ravi: Tell me clearly; haven’t you seen the campaign for you to be next President of India doing the rounds?

Kalam: Hey, am not budging from that Question. Let me attempt to answer. Yes, I have seen the campaign doing the rounds. On one hand, am thankful to Almighty to receive the love of so many humans in India and abroad, especially young brains. On the other hand…..

Ravi: Kalam ji, sorry to interrupt. As a ‘man watcher’ and beloved son of Mother Nature, Mother India and Mother Thamizh and not belonging to any sect, class, creed or group; sensing the sentiments of Indian people, I suspect that people with visionary powers fear and FEEL that it will be a hung parliament in India in 2014. So, they probably foresee president’s rule. And you are their ONLY choice. Their saviour, in fact.

Kalam: Yes. Maybe that’s a possibility with the 2 national parties losing enormous ground and the regional parties holding sway. I suspect that something major will shake us for good in 2014!

Ravi: Kalam ji, Mother Earth shook for a while recently in Chennai and the coast of India. Is it some kind of that ‘shake’ you are referring to?

Kalam: I wish not to be that way. Again, understand through science. Earthquakes are a result of Energy imbalances on Mother Earth which man does knowingly or unknowingly.

Ravi: So, do you envision a ‘Political Tsunami’ in India, circa 2014?

Kalam: De Thambi, unaku yenna breaking news venuma? Why are you putting words in my mouth, da? Look, I don’t wish to be a prophet. You know, humans from time immemorial are very emotional when bitter truth is told to them. They killed prophets and Saints. Indians are emotional as well. They build temples for their heroes. When a cricket wins, it is hailed. When they lose, they are nailed. Haven’t you properly understood history?

Ravi: Sir, please leave all this HISTORY for the time being, you please tell us whether you are interested to work out of Rashtrapathi Bhavan, again for a second-innings or not?

Kalam: So, you little fella, you won’t leave me, right? Here we go…

Look Ravi, I thought deeply onto this. On one hand, as I said, am grateful to Almighty for all your love and affection bestowed to me. I enjoyed solitary walks on the lawns of the R.Bhavan, had an opportunity to meet so many thousands of ‘young brains’ and learn from them. On the contrary, am worried about this ‘hero worship’ culture Indians has mastered-

We fail to even acknowledge the knowledge of our own elders in family OR in any institution for that matter. Hero worship begets crony capitalism mentality which is DANGEROUS. The brainset of the people have to change. We take pleasure in crucifying ‘pure’ people in leadership or elsewhere. Look at what our folks have done to one of the greatest economists India was fortunate to have i.e. Shri. Manmohan Singh. Haven’t you crucified that soul already?

Look, all of you young brains, we have so many capable leaders and champions among us in all walks of life.  They are all in front of us. For the post of President of India, I shall be glad to interview the shortlisted candidates given by you folks.

Ravi: Are you serious of giving it a pass? People are spending time and money for the campaign and shortly children also would be involved. In fact it was they who started this campaign silently telling their parents and their parents stole that idea! Hah Ha!

Kalam: Please leave me alone lovely emotional people of India. I have had my cup of tea at the highest office of India. Now, with all your permission, please allow me to do what am good and doing happy and sometimes joy at -i.e.  Teaching, Researching, Motivating and igniting young brains, reading and writing Thamizh poetry and of-course watching Prime Time English News and Lok Sabha proceedings for entertainment! My main unfinished agenda is to make solar power affordable to mankind. It’s a WIP (Work in progress)

Ravi: Oh, that’s music to our ears regarding Solar. On the personal level, I could get to meet you often in Chennaipatnam. Second, you would live longer as you don’t have to do Naatu Panjayathu(National Panchayat president!). You can be yourselves, isn’t it?

Kalam: Am glad that atleast you have empathy on me. As I stated, I would love to select a person with impeccable integrity for the office of President of India. As I said, we have many capable candidates.

Ravi: Like… can u name some?

Kalam: So, you thought you are a Karan Thapar or an Arnab Goswami, is it? I bet, you can’t beat them in entertainment for sure.

Ravi: One last word as we wind up our lovely session – What do you think of making the cricket icon, Sachin Tendulkar- a ‘nominated’ Minister to the GOI?

Kalam: Well, it would be productive if he is groomed to become a sports minister. Else if he remains as a ‘showpiece’ like earlier experiences, then it’s an exercise in futility. Time will tell.

Ravi: Thank you Kalam ji and Srini na and IIT Madras for this opportunity. I enjoyed and cherished the food for both the body and the brain.

Kalam: Thank you friends. Take care. “Srini, the director is calling”. He wants to play badminton with me. Please take me to the indoor stadium. See you, Ravi. Atleast next time make an effort to win the 100 min dash with a Septuagenarian like me, okay? Please practice.

Friends, hope you enjoyed the juice(s) laced with mild satire in this ‘piece’. Would be glad and thrilled if Kalam ji gets to read and share his laugh and his REAL thoughts with us.

I end with an optimistic note amidst the din and muck in India – in both body and brain of many, ‘old brains’ to start with. I for one, envision a period of President’s rule in 2014 and India would be super-power starting 2020! It’s my personal opinion. Kalam is indeed THE person during the President’s rule BUT he is not interested as you heard him. So let’s look for another Kalam-like less-impure soul. Now, pause and look at the IIT model of excellence. Can’t it be replicated all over India? Won’t the former Director of IIT(M) Dr.M.S.Ananth fit the bill? Let’s all think and THEN Respond decisively. Folks, I just gave an idea, not a name or a person. Naming is incidental for better understanding.

“The OLD or aging brain 'invents' numerous PROBLEMS to possible solutions and a Young brain ACTIVELY seeks Various possible Solutions to a Problem“- ‘Yours Truly’ 

Best wishes,

G&W Ravi