Kalam’s parting advice to politicians

By M Rama Rao
New Delhi, May 1O (National Herald): President APJ Abdul Kalam has an advice to law makers and political parties alike. He wants MPs to become visionary leaders. And political parties to help transform the present multi-party coalitions to emerge a two-party system of governance.

The scientist- statesman spoke his mind at the function to commemorate 150th Anniversary of First War of Independence held at the Central Hall of Parliament on Thursday. The ceremony marks his last major address to the nation as President since his term ends on July 24.

The advice assumes significance in the context of parliament’s continuous failure to hold ‘normal’ proceedings most of the time in recent months.

Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, and the Vice president joined President Kalam in paying glowing tributes to the heroes and martyrs of Independence. They termed the events of 1857 as a great testimony to traditions of Hindu-Muslim unity.

President Kalam remarked that the First War of Independence had created ‘a renaissance’ of visionary, devoted and passionate leadership across the entire spectrum of national activity. He said the present day lawmakers too should become visionaries to lead the nation to greater glory.

“Can you also become visionary leaders, putting the nation above yourself? Can you become one of the great ones of India”, the President asked and replied himself thus: “Yes, you can”.

He elaborated that the MPs could achieve the goal “if you enliven the Parliament with leadership for the great mission of transforming India into an economically prosperous, happy, strong and safe nation before 2020”.
Dr Kalam asked them to ‘have a big aim’ and ‘work for the nation in Parliament and outside’

Identifying the emergence of multi-party coalitions as one of the many challenges before the country, President Kalam said these coalitions need to ‘rapidly evolve’ as a stable, two-party system. Terrorism and widening economic disparities are among the other challenge, he said.

“Many challenges need to be responded to: the emergence of multi-party coalitions as a regular form of government, that need to rapidly evolve as a stable, two-party system, the need to strengthen internal security to cope with global terrorism and new forms of internal law-and-order problems; the widening of economic disparities during a period of high growth in the absence of a comprehensive National Prosperity Index in place of GDP alone; the rapid depletion of global fossil fuel reserves; and increasing threats to our territorial security by the development of new forms of warfare”.

He said the nation cannot afford to rest content with past achievements and ignore recent developments that call for a change in technology, industry and agriculture".

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his address pointed out that the struggle of 1857 took a national and racial but not a communal turn. That was because common life had developed among Hindus and Muslims a sense of brotherhood and sympathy.

He urged the people to ensure that the sacrifices of freedom struggle are not in vain. “It is our responsibility to build a nation, free from want, rid of the ancient scourge of poverty, ignorance and disease. It is our responsibility to build a new prosperous India that is inclusive as well as caring”.