His Excellence Dr.APJ - II

WARNING: Incomplete post!

There was only 2 kind of response for the post His Excellence Dr.APJ - Part I from people who have read it.

First was the kind of people who told me “what yaar. He just speaks. What he did when he was president? He has only big dreams. But you know reality is something different” They all were with the same kind of fussing, trifling attitude about the post.

And then the second were the one, who almost see Dr.APJ as god. Almost crazy about what ever he says. The moment I told that I went to attend his seminar after I came to office by evening 3:30 some felt bad about missing the opportunity to meet him and were very curios about what happened there.

My answer for the first set of people is, DON’T CRIB. It’s an art to appreciate the good in bad and also not to crib about the bad in good. To my knowledge Dr.APJ is the only president who has utilized the so called little power of Indian President Post to the full extent. And in his career he has already showed his full capability which no one can undermine. Hope I made the point for the first set of people.

Now for the second set, I have great respect for Dr.APJ. I admire him as an individual personality. I feel happy to have met a man who has a great vision. But at the same time I can’t completely agree with all his dreams. How many in India know Dr.APJ pre-pokhran? It’s somehow the same media hype and Dr.APJ is no exception. He led a technical team (he also being among them) in various programs and also to make the “Buddha Laugh” in pokhran. I agree and there’s no question about his leadership quality.

Now coming to the other side, the non-technical side where society is the concern. Dr.APJ view is, his belief is in the power of science to resolve society’s problems and his views of these problems are as a result of inefficient distribution of resources is modernistic. He also sees science and technology as ideology-free areas and emphasizes the cultivation of scientific temper and entrepreneurial drive.

Stop. This is where my thoughts go diametrical. I know many people though not in thousands but a dozen who have brought a change or still bringing change to resolve society’s problem. Not to mention, they are not depending on technology for that.

In order to make clear on what I am saying, here is the first and only question I was able to ask Dr.APJ in the minuscule interaction session. The topic Dr.APJ addressing was “The role of technology in ensuring an inclusive and sustainable future.”

Question: “Sir considering the topic my concern is, what’s most needed at this very moment? Science and Technology or little bit of more love and care?”

To understand his answer first you must know little bit about one of the program he is spear heading. The PURA, (Providing Urban amenities in Rural Areas) envisages economic empowerment to a cluster of villages through the provision of physical connectivity, electronic connectivity and knowledge connectivity. This is what PURA in nutshell. To know more visit here.

Dr.APJ Answer: Actually it’s there when I mentioned “inclusive”. The physical connectivity what I mentioned is the answer for you.

And to mention, actually Dr.APJ was first unable to understand my question first as I was bit fast (as usual one chaotic soul I am) and I hope he understood when I repeated second time slowly. Since the program was running out of time I couldn’t complete what I want to.

But to elucidate my intension of such a question, an extract from what Dr.APJ said about one of the PURA implementation in remote place of tamilnadu.

“Last year I visited the Periyar Maniammai College of Technology for Women and inaugurated the Periyar PURA Complex. Over 65 villages near Vallam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, have been transformed as a PURA cluster.

This PURA complex has all three connectivities — physical connectivity, with a circular road and interconnecting roads covering major villages, along with bus transport; electronic connectivity through Internet kiosks; knowledge connectivity through the academic bakcground of the promoting agency — leading to economic connectivity of 65 villages.”

Now coming back to my question, what’s the most needed at this moment, Science and technology or little bit of more love and care?”

This is what I want to ask. “Sir I agree with all aspect of PURA and I do realize villages need to be uplifted. But before that even though Chennai is connected to Bangalore in all sense, physically by road, air, rail, economically by various businesses, Ethically as Indians why did we have so much of clash for the Hogenekkal which involve water sharing and so many clashes like this all over India which are already having this connectivity under different categories mentioned in PURA?”

I know some may say its all politics etc and finally that will drag me into my second question. I blame it on me for always ending up posting sensitive issues. I am tired. I am tired of speaking and posts like this. That’s why I always have respect for Dr.APJ as well the other dozen people who take step further and get on ground to solve issue.

In Dr.APJ way I somehow feel technology is secondary. What ever connectivity he says may reduce the distance of reachability of info and stuff but to handle and reduce the distance between people’s mind/heart we need just one thing which we already have and need to bring it out. HUMANITY.

For whatsoever reason I am just planning to stop continuing this post and those unasked question will remain with me. I know i have lot to ask but I consider it is worth for me to find/seek rather to ask.

And to complete this, i was chatting with my brother morning and he was so excited about him. He told and asked me “HE is ONE in the billion. Why can’t you be the second in the billion?”

I know asking question is easy and answering the tough part. But i had a straight forward answer for this. I told my brother “Ask thy the same!”

If this can happen with all the billion in India, Sir Dr.APJ don’t have to wait till 2020 and he can consider India is developed that moment itself.