10-17-2007, 02:27 AM
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Overseas Indians should work to make adopted nations a winner: Kalam
16 Oct 2007, 1455 hrs IST,PTI
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WASHINGTON: With millions of Indians now living abroad, former President APJ Abdul Kalam has asked the Diaspora to work with dedication to make their adopted countries a winner.
"Today the overseas Indian population is 23 million, either as citizens of other countries or working there. So it is essential that whichever country you go, you make that country a winner. That is your mission," Kalam said addressing an enthusiastic audience on the occasion of the first Anniversary of the JSS Mission at Gaithersburg, Maryland.
"Whichever country the Indian population is there, particularly in the US, we must always give to that country your best of knowledge, your best of work. Everything you have to give to that country," the septuagenarian leader told the gathering which turned out in strength on a working day to listen to him.
At a luncheon interaction, Kalam, who is considered as the father of India's missile programme, said political parties should focus more on development politics instead of "political politics".
"Politics has got two components. One of political politics and the other is developmental politics. Political politics, every party has to do it...is a necessary function" Kalam remarked.
"Developmental politics is when one party will say I will do it in ten years to make my nation great and another saying it will do it in seven years. But political politics takes up 30 per cent of the time 70 per cent of the time it is developmental politics. But the reverse happens throughout the world," the former President said.
Pointing that spirituality was common to all religions, Kalam said it should be used to bridge the gap between various faiths.
"I believe religion has got two components. One is theology and another is spirituality. Theology, no religion would like to change... But fortunately spirituality is common to all religions," he said.
"So we have to see how we can bridge religions with spirituality."
Kalam, who arrived from New York yesterday, went to the NASA Centre in Maryland before coming to the JSS Mission in Gaithesberg to spend several hours with the crowd that waited patiently for hours to hear the former President speak.
But Kalam did not offer any comment on current issues except to recall briefly the visit of President George W Bush to India last year.
"When President Bush came to India I gave an energy presentation--on how we can become independent of fossil fuel driven oil, gas and coal. He (Bush) said America and India have to work together for energy independence. That means you go on solar power, bio-fuels...." Kalam remarked.
He emphasising that it was the duty of the human kind to see how the divine mission could be turned into a vision.
"Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. Where there is beauty in the character there is harmony in the home. Where there is harmony in the home there is order in the nation and when there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world," Kalam said.
Several religious heads and politicians and diplomats, including Indian Ambassador to the United States Ronen Sen, were present at the function.
Overseas Indians should work to make adopted nations a winner: Kalam
16 Oct 2007, 1455 hrs IST,PTI
Print Save EMail Write to Editor
WASHINGTON: With millions of Indians now living abroad, former President APJ Abdul Kalam has asked the Diaspora to work with dedication to make their adopted countries a winner.
"Today the overseas Indian population is 23 million, either as citizens of other countries or working there. So it is essential that whichever country you go, you make that country a winner. That is your mission," Kalam said addressing an enthusiastic audience on the occasion of the first Anniversary of the JSS Mission at Gaithersburg, Maryland.
"Whichever country the Indian population is there, particularly in the US, we must always give to that country your best of knowledge, your best of work. Everything you have to give to that country," the septuagenarian leader told the gathering which turned out in strength on a working day to listen to him.
At a luncheon interaction, Kalam, who is considered as the father of India's missile programme, said political parties should focus more on development politics instead of "political politics".
"Politics has got two components. One of political politics and the other is developmental politics. Political politics, every party has to do it...is a necessary function" Kalam remarked.
"Developmental politics is when one party will say I will do it in ten years to make my nation great and another saying it will do it in seven years. But political politics takes up 30 per cent of the time 70 per cent of the time it is developmental politics. But the reverse happens throughout the world," the former President said.
Pointing that spirituality was common to all religions, Kalam said it should be used to bridge the gap between various faiths.
"I believe religion has got two components. One is theology and another is spirituality. Theology, no religion would like to change... But fortunately spirituality is common to all religions," he said.
"So we have to see how we can bridge religions with spirituality."
Kalam, who arrived from New York yesterday, went to the NASA Centre in Maryland before coming to the JSS Mission in Gaithesberg to spend several hours with the crowd that waited patiently for hours to hear the former President speak.
But Kalam did not offer any comment on current issues except to recall briefly the visit of President George W Bush to India last year.
"When President Bush came to India I gave an energy presentation--on how we can become independent of fossil fuel driven oil, gas and coal. He (Bush) said America and India have to work together for energy independence. That means you go on solar power, bio-fuels...." Kalam remarked.
He emphasising that it was the duty of the human kind to see how the divine mission could be turned into a vision.
"Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. Where there is beauty in the character there is harmony in the home. Where there is harmony in the home there is order in the nation and when there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world," Kalam said.
Several religious heads and politicians and diplomats, including Indian Ambassador to the United States Ronen Sen, were present at the function.