A Spiritual Scientist
India is still
struggling to come out of the grief and loss of its beloved Former- President
and Missile man Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s death. Kalam received abundant love
and respect both from masses and classes across India. Dr. Kalam, a secular face
of India, personified science, technology and a true humanism. Dr. Kalam also restored
and shared his deep faith in Religion and Spirituality. Spirituality is accounted
as the antonyms of science and rationality because the principles of science
and principles of religions are contradictory. How can a scientist be a
spiritual person? How can he justify the transcendental powers as a hardcore
scientist? How would the students of the science take his thoughts? We get the
answers of these questions when we study his writings and speeches.
In his autobiography
‘Wings of Fire’ Kalam narrates an incident about the mystical and supernatural
powers of his Father Jainalabdeen as “ My father would dip his fingers in the
water (brought in bowls by the people around the locality) and that holy water then
carried home for invalids. I also remember people visiting our home to offer
thanks after being cured. My father always smiled and asked them to thank
Allah, the benevolent and merciful” These thoughts are developed further to
stretch the importance of spirituality and godly powers as he writes, “ All
these rockets and missiles are HIS work
through the small man called Kalam.” He gave all the credit of his achievement
to God. He reiterated often that he has received powers from the source of God
and in all scientific research he was helped by ‘hidden hand’.
Dr. Kalam was a
liberate thinker and expressionist of his thoughts. He cherished and supported
what touched his thoughts and opinions. Though he was a scientist and performed
his duties perfectly well he always owed a lot to God and transcendental
powers. Kalam dared to speak the truth which he observed and his view never
confronted with his scientific responsibilities. Kalam attended a Convocational
Ceremony of Satya Sai Baba Institute at Puttaparthi and gave a speech ‘Satya
Sai Baba : A Divine Legend’ which raised many eyebrows but if one analyses the
speech one can understand that Kalam honored Sai Baba’s noble and philanthropic
work particularly his hospital services, water provisions to remote villages,
educational institutes etc. “I
admire Bhagwan Satya Sai Baba for his selfless work and contributions to the
welfare of the people by providing drinking water for the rural population,
free healthcare facilities for the rural poor and free higher education.” he
said these words in his speech and also donated 2 months’ salary ( Rs.10000/-) to the Sai Trust.
I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied
this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called
religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so
far as our science can reveal it. (Albert Einstein, 1954)
No comments:
Post a Comment