Book Summary: "IGNITED MINDS: Unleashing the Power Within India" by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Brief about the Book:

This book is truly inspiring and uplifting. It is a powerful reminder of the incredible potential that lies within each one of us to make a difference in our lives and society.

What I appreciate most about this book is its simplicity and clarity of message. Kalam’s writing style is accessible to readers of all ages and backgrounds. He shares personal anecdotes, real-life stories, and his personal experiences, making the book relatable and engaging.

Throughout the book, Kalam emphasises the importance of education, scientific thinking, and innovation. His passion for these subjects shines through, and it is contagious. The book encourages readers to dream big, set goals, and work hard to achieve them.

One aspect that particularly resonated with me was Kalam’s emphasis on the power of positive thinking and the belief in one’s abilities. He encourages readers to have confidence in themselves and to overcome obstacles with perseverance and determination.

His stories of individuals from humble backgrounds who have achieved great success serve as a testament to the transformative power of hard work and self-belief.

Book publication date: November 2014.

Brief about the Author:

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam:- Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was the eleventh President of India (2002-2007) and is known as “THE MISSILE MAN OF INDIA” within and outside India.

Being a great Aerospace Scientist, he was a great politician too. Dr Kalam spent his early years in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. Later he moved to Ramnathpuram and Chennai for higher studies.

He studied physics and aerospace engineering and worked as a scientist at the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

As a human, Dr Kalam has been benevolent throughout his life. We find him keen to learn and grow. He did not have in himself a tinge of pride.

Dr. Kalam possessed a sense of compassion and gratitude for whosoever crossed his path. Not only did science but he also delved into literature.

Dr. Kalam held profound affection for his motherland. The support and blessings of his family, friends and mentors allowed him to step up. He received many prestigious awards including Padma Bhushan and Bharata Ratna Award.

On 27 July 2015, while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management (Shillong), he collapsed and left for the heavens.

IGNITED MINDS:- Book Review

Chapter 1 – The Dream and the Message

Dream, Dream, Dream Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action. Spirituality must be integrated with education. Self-realisation is the focus. Each one of us must become aware of our higher self. We are links of a great past to a grand future. We should ignite our dormant inner energy and let it guide our lives. The radiance of such minds embarked on constructive endeavour will bring peace, prosperity and bliss to this notion.

Chapter 2 – Give us a Role Model

Men often become what they believe themselves to be. If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it even if I didn’t have it in the beginning. – Mahatma Gandhi.

Who is our enemy? (Question by Schoolboy in Gujarat) “Our enemy is Poverty” – an answer which came from a school girl, to whom the book is dedicated.

Ancient India was a knowledge society and a leader in many intellectual pursuits, particularly in the fields of mathematics, medicine and astronomy. A renaissance is imperative for us once again to become a knowledge superpower rather than simply providing cheap labour in areas of high technology.

A nation’s wealth is the young generation of the country. When they grow up, who can be the role models? Mothers, fathers, and elementary school teachers play a very important part as role models. When the child grows up, the role models will be national leaders of quality and integrity in every field including politics, the sciences, technology and industry.

Chapter 3 – Visionary Teachers and Scientists

Whatever you can do or dream you can begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now. - Goethe

Vision ignites the minds. India needs visionaries of the stature of J.R.D. Tatam Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan and Dr Verghese Kurien, to name a few, can involve an entire generation in the mission-driven programmes which benefit the country as a whole.

Chapter 4 – Learning from Saints and Seers

For the society to prosper there are two important needs. They are prosperity through wealth generation and cherishing the value system of the people. The combination of the two will make the Nation truly strong and prosperous.

Rig Veda: ‘Aano bhadrah kratavo yenthu vishwathaha’ – ‘Let noble thoughts come to us from every side’

Our spiritual wisdom has been our strength. We survived as a nation the onslaughts of invaders and the numbing effects of colonialism. We have also learnt to adjust to the rifts and divisions in our society. But in the process of all adjustment, we also lowered our aims and expectations. We must regain our broad outlook and draw upon our heritage and wisdom to enrich our lives. The fact that we advance technologically does not preclude spiritual development. We need to home-grow our model of development based on our inherent strengths.

Chapter 5 – Patriotism Beyond Politics and Religion

I do not care for liberation, I would rather go to a hundred thousand hells, ‘doing good to others (silently) like the spring’, this is my religion. – Swami Vivekananda

For great men, religion is a way of making friends; small people make religion a fighting tool.

There are success stories among failures. There is hope in chaos and promise among problems. We are one billion people with multiple faiths and ideologies. In the absence of a national vision, cracks at the seam keep surfacing and make us vulnerable. There is a need to reinforce this seam and amalgamate us into one national forum.

Chapter 6 – The Knowledge Society

Wisdom is a weapon to ward off destruction; It is an inner fortress which enemies cannot destroy. – Thirukkural 421 (200 BC)

It is the people of a nation who make it great. By their effort, the people in turn become important citizens of their great country. Ignited minds are the most powerful resource on earth, and the one billion minds of our nation are indeed a great power waiting to be tapped.

Ancient India was a knowledge society that contributed a great deal to civilisation. We need to recover that status and become a knowledge power. We must learn from our mistakes to achieve a better standard of life. A developed India will supplant a spirit of defeat with the spirit of victory.

Chapter 7 – Getting the Forces Together

Determine that things can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way. – Abraham Lincoln

We need to adapt the implementation of our programmes and policies into a mission mode to succeed. Progress cannot be swift and far-reaching if the path is full of potholes. The abundant national resources, human and material, remain to be fully utilised.

Chapter 8 – Building a New State

If I were to look over the whole world to find out the country most richly endowed with all the wealth, power and beauty that nature can bestow – in some parts a very paradise on earth – I should point to India. – F Max Muller…

The upshot is that India is poor as a nation despite its enormous wealth because it does not focus on value addition, be it in the mineral or biodiversity products or even grain or fish.

The way to development is through purposeful activity. The young especially have to be guided properly, so that their lives find a proper direction and their creativity is allowed to flower. To facilitate this, certain educational reforms must be initiated. Concerning improving the pace of development, Centre-state efforts should be coordinated in a few key areas and efforts across sectors and organisations integrated and taken up in a mission mode. The mindset must change, showing a willingness to take pragmatic risks. Success will follow.

Chapter 9 – To My Countrymen

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high,

Where knowledge is free,

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments…

My father, let my country awake.

- Rabindranath Tagore

Students should get ready to transform India into a developed nation. Ignite your mind and think big.

A teacher once said, “Give me a five-year-old child. After seven years, no God or Devil will be able to change the child.’ Will all teachers be such gurus?

And to God the Almighty! Make my people sweat. Let their toil create many more Agnis that can annihilate evil. Let my country prosper in peace. Let my people live in harmony. Let me go to dust as a proud citizen of India, to rise again and rejoice in its glory.

Some of the quotes from the book are listed below:

• If there are no dreams, there are no revolutionary thoughts; if there are no thoughts, no actions will emanate.
• History shows the hunger for achievement is a highly evolved one and undoubtedly the strongest one.
• Oh, my friends why don’t you in every field integrate and grow instead of differentiating?

Conclusion:

The book leaves a lasting impact. It instils a sense of hope and motivation, reminding us that each one of us has the power to contribute to the progress of our nation and the world. It is a book that I would recommend to anyone seeking inspiration and a renewed sense of purpose.

Learning:

1. Growth doesn’t happen overnight

We hate to say it, but this is not a lottery. It’s a long and exhausting process that should help India to stabilize its key aspects and convert into a global Superpower.?

The young generation ought to lay the groundwork for this endeavour.

2. Attitude is key

Perhaps, Kalam didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but his core message revolves around India’s character.

He voiced grave concerns in terms of the nation’s determination to achieve strategic and personal goals.

We sincerely hope that – Indian Youth will deal with this issue, once and for all.

3. Governing doesn’t mean ruling

Indians are tired of ruling elites; ranging from the Mughal Empire to European Colonization. They simply don’t like to be ruled but guided and led by true reformers!

It’s a big difference, because in doing so – the country should safeguard their interests and care for their well-being.

Not many rulers did that in the past, to say the least!

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