My Vision for India
by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Rapid Learn 2-Minute Revision
Perfect for last-minute revision
2-Minute Revision Video
Video coming soon
In this inspiring speech, former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam shares his three visions for India. His FIRST VISION is FREEDOM: in three thousand years of history, invaders from Alexander onwards, Greeks, Turks, Moguls, Portuguese, British, French, Dutch, came, looted and conquered, yet India has never conquered or grabbed another nation's land, because it respects the freedom of others; this freedom, first fought for in 1857, must be protected and nurtured. His SECOND VISION is DEVELOPMENT: for fifty years India has been a developing nation, but with a good growth rate and falling poverty it is time to see ourselves as a developed nation, self-reliant and self-assured. His THIRD VISION is that India must STAND UP TO THE WORLD, strong both as a military and an economic power, because only strength respects strength. Kalam recalls working with three great scientific minds, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, Prof. Satish Dhawan and Dr. Brahm Prakash. He recalls a fourteen-year-old girl who wanted to live in a developed India, and says it is up to each of us to build it. Instead of merely complaining that the government is inefficient, the laws old, the phones useless and mail undelivered, we must ask what we can do for India and do it, echoing J.F. Kennedy's famous words.
Detailed Summary
Detailed Summary Video
Video coming soon
First Vision, Freedom
Kalam's first vision is freedom. In three thousand years of history many invaders, from Alexander onwards, the Greeks, Turks, Moguls, Portuguese, British, French and Dutch, came, looted India and took what was ours; yet India has never conquered another nation or tried to force its way of life on others, because it respects the freedom of others. India got its first vision of freedom in 1857, in the war of Independence, and this freedom must be protected, nurtured and built upon, for 'if we are not free, no one will respect us'.
Second Vision, Development
India has a good growth rate in most areas and falling poverty levels; its achievements are globally recognised, and it is among the top five nations in the world in terms of GDP. Yet Indians lack the self-confidence to see themselves as a developed nation, self-reliant and self-assured. For fifty years India has been a developing nation; Kalam says it is time to see ourselves as a developed nation.
Third Vision, Standing up to the world
Kalam's third vision is that India must stand up to the world, because unless it does, no one will respect it, 'only strength respects strength'. India must be strong not only as a military power but also as an economic power; both must go hand in hand. He counts himself fortunate to have worked closely with three great minds: Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and Prof. Satish Dhawan of the Department of Space, and Dr. Brahm Prakash, father of nuclear material.
'Ask what we can do for India'
Kalam recalls a fourteen-year-old girl in Hyderabad who said her goal was to live in a developed India, a India that you and I must build. He criticises the habit of only complaining that the government is inefficient, the laws too old, the municipality careless, the phones useless and the mail undelivered. Echoing J.F. Kennedy, he urges every Indian to 'ask what we can do for India and do what has to be done' to make India equal to America and other developed nations.