Give us A Role Model by APJ Abdul Kalam

Unit-1 Prose

Give us A Role Model by APJ Abdul Kalam 

Summary: 

The essay “ Give Us a Role Model” is taken from AP J Abdul Kalam’s book Ignited Minds; he begins the  chapter with a quote of Mahatma Gandhi which highlights the importance of having faith in oneself. It is  this faith that makes one capable of doing even what one was not used to do until then. The author then  moves on to a few reflections on his thoughts on having role models. He decides to meet students so that  he could ask them of their dreams and tell them that it was perfectly alright to lead a good life, an  abundant life full of pleasure and work for that golden era. Dr. Abdul Kalam says that whatever work is  done, should be done with the heart because then alone will they be able to spread love and joy around  them. 

In his meeting with the students of Tripura school where he discussed his second vision on transforming  India into a developed country a series of questions were asked to him. Of these questions he shares two  which he finds interesting. When students asked him where and how to get a role model he tells them to  take their parents and teacher as a role model till the age of fifteen. According to Dr. Kalam the full  development of a child with a value system can only come from these people. It is the teacher who  generates creativity in the child. Education and the teacher-student relationship should not be seen as  business but with the nation’s growth in mind. However these qualities have to be nurtured by one-self as  no law would bring this into force. To a question asked by another student about terrorists and their  nationality, Dr. Abdul Kalam answered that they were Indians who were created through political and  economic isolation. He then tells them with great effort the story of the epics-Ramayana and Mahabharata  where the battle took place between good and evil. In all such battles it is Dharma or goodness that wins  over evil. On his pilgrimage to the various schools in the country he came across a question from a  student from St. Mary’s School in Dindigul . The student wanted to know why the President had asked  everyone to dream in his book Wings of Fire. To this he says that it is dreams that are converted into  thoughts which are in turn converted into actions. Followed by this question another student asked who  would be the real scientist. To this he answered that a real scientist is one who questions reality and that  would be none other than a child. 

On Dr. Abdul Kalam’s visit to Assam he visited Tezpur where he was being honored with a doctorate  degree. Indomitable Spirit was the theme of his address after which he was asked why the water from  river Brahmaputra cannot be diverted into Tamil Nadu or Rajastan where there is water shortage. To this  he answered them that in India Vision 2020 there are many rivers being connected cutting across the state.  Another student expressed great displeasure at the ministers visiting close by places and avoiding any sort  of interaction with them. At Sri Ramakrishna High School, Bokaro he was asked why there was a desert  in Rajastan. To this he gave the same answer that it will be included in the 2020 development programme.The questions were different and very interesting. Upon releasing his autobiography in Oriya, Dr. Abdul  Kalam was asked by the students which were his favourite books that influenced him. He mentioned four  books which he held very close to his heart which were:

1. The first is Man the Unknown by Dr Alexis Carrel, a doctor-turned-philosopher who inspires the reader to become doctors. 

2. Tiruvalluvars Thirukkural, which provides an excellent code of life. 

3. Many Lamps by Lillian Eichler Watson, which illuminated his life and 

4. The Holy Qur’an which is a constant companion. 

On another trip to meet the school children in Anandalaya, Gujarat’ he was asked a very intelligent  question by a clever boy. The boy wanted to know who our enemy was. The answer too came from the  same boy. He said it was ‘poverty’. It is to this boy the author dedicated this book. However the last  question was whether Pakistani weapons were stronger than Indian. It was answered that India can  design, develop and produce any type of missile and any type of nuclear weapon. This is a capability only  four countries in the world have. The most important question was whether we give our children a role  model? According to Kalam, role models can help us focus on what is correct for us as individuals as  groups and, of course, as a nation. He gives the example of Dr Vikram Sarabhai whose vision succeeded  over three decades through sustained and coordinated achievement at work. He says that role models play  a guiding role in our lives. The power of Vikram Sarabhai was such that others took up his vision and  completed it long after he was no more. Role models can lead to great success with the inspiration they  instill in children.