Reviewed by Asif Anwar Alig
Dear Kalam Sir, by Saji Mathew and Jubie John, Bloomsbury Publishing India, Year 2016, 224pp, Indian Rupees 1274, Hard

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Neither thorough biography
nor an attempt to elusively eulogize a personality, this book is unique attempt
to sum the emotions of millions of admirers in simplistic yet appealing manner.
Missionary zeal of the author(s)’ compliment initiative LetterFarms inspired
common masses for their incessant involvement and this book saw the light of
the day. They raise indisputable question where new generation through ignoring
the handwritten culture and for their forced dependency on technology tools—the
smart devices.


Dr. Kalam’s simplicity
of lifestyle became embodiment of Indian subcontinent’s heritage and diversity.
This book uniquely portrays the incessant efforts of Saji Mathew and Jubie John
handpicking selected postcards out of hundreds of thousands they received at the
LetterFarms. Selected ones added in the book are people’s creative and passionate
emotional tributes for a person who still inspires millions.
Dr. Kalam still commands
unparalleled admiration from the masses, especially youngsters being inspired from
him to dream big. Rare attributes distinguished his personality like personally
replying even random letters written by common people. Personal replies to them
and the books he authored sill ignite hearts and minds of countless people.

This book exceptionally
tributes to celebrate the life sketch of great scientist and visionary leader. It
is an archetypal effort from the author(s) to reprint ordinary masses’
handwritten postcards. Readers assume as if they authored it and so do they
realize true reflection of emotional expressions to tribute the person who redefined
the concept of Presidency during his tenure as country’s first citizen.

Born Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen
Abdul Kalam on 15 October 1931 in Rameswaram Island
in now Tamil
Nadu
state, he was
India’s 11th President from 2002 to 2007. A career scientist turned
politician served Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian
Space Research Organisation
(ISRO) for four decades. His valuable contributions for India’s civilian space
program to military missile development initiatives were always
lauded.
Denoted with Missile
Man of India for
contributions to develop ballistic missile and for launching the vehicle technology advancements he was
bestowed with several prestigious awards including India's highest civilian
honour, the Bharat
Ratna
conferred in 1997.
Born in a Tamil Muslim
family nearby the Hindu pilgrimage center at Rameswaram
on the Pamban Island in then Madras Presidency (now Tamil Nadu) to a boat owner cum mosque Imam Jainulabudeen,
he got first lesson of secularism in childhood while his father ferried Hindu
pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram
to now uninhabited Dhanushkodi areas. Youngest of four brothers
and one sister, Dr. Kalam faced tough phase in early childhood. He had to even sell
newspapers to support family to run.
Spirituality and religion remained important for Dr. Kalam
throughout his life. A proud Muslim he never missed daily namāz (Muslim prayers) and fasting during Ramadan. His father, as an Imam of a mosque in Rameswaram, strictly
instilled Islamic customs in him and in his siblings. He would see his father valuing
interfaith respects and dialogue. He recalled: “Every evening, my father A.P.
Jainulabdeen, an Imam, Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, the Head Priest of the
Ramanathaswamy Hindu Temple, and a Church Priest used to sit with hot tea to discuss
issues concerning the island.” Such early exposure to communal harmony proved convincing
for him to find answers to India's multitudinous issues in the “dialogue and
cooperation” among religious, social, and political leaders in the country.
In addition to Dr. Kalam’s faith in Holy Qur’an
and Islamic practices, he obtained extensive knowledge of Hindu traditions. He read Bhagavad Gita and remained strict vegetarian throughout
his life. Composing Tamil poetry, playing Veena (a South Indian
string instrument) and listening to Carnatic
music were his personality’s distinctness.
Several educational & scientific institutions and or
places are now renamed or named to honour Dr. Kalam. Kishanganj, Bihar based an
Agricultural College was renamed to Dr. Kalam Agricultural College Kishanganj by
the state government on the day of his funeral. Uttar Pradesh
Technical University (UPTU) was
renamed to .P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University by that state government. A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam Memorial Travancore Institute of Digestive Diseases is a research
institute in Kollam, Kerala. Likewise, a national missile test site in Odisha named Wheeler Island was renamed to Abdul Kalam Island in September 2015. The list is too long.
This book’s Foreword
by Dr. Shashi Tharoor passionately expresses gratitude for Dr. Kalam in the
light of his indomitable contributions which endeared him to people from all
walks of life. “Life and works of Dr. Kalam are embodied best of what India can
be. India has never had a more beloved President than him,” said Tharoor. Founder
of Infosys NR Narayana Murthy writes in Preface that “as an essentially
engineering-project manager, Dr. Kalam extensively used scientific concepts to
express most humane ideas.” His passion for teaching was irrefutable until he breathed
his last.
A seminal book curated
like playlists to fill ordinary people’s thoughts and personal reflections on a
rare personality in postcard expressions it seeks everybody’s attention. They portray
people’s passion for Dr. Kalam’s incomparable commitment.
This book review was first published in Colombo based Ceylon Today newspaper [www.ceylontoday.lk] in its August 08, 2016 edition.
http://epaper.ceylontoday.lk/Process/UploadTwo/e_paper/1315.jpg
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