Dr. Kalam - Total inspiration!

Just returned from listening to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. He is too cool - never will another walk this earth like this one and express himself so well, without self consciousness. I have always loved the humble and funny way of expression he has. He speaks with a total tamil accent, wears his hair like a bohemian wig (trendy without realizing it!) and makes people repeat 'oaths' after him left, right and center.

He only has 3o honorary doctorates but more importantly, he speaks from data and rationality. The things he says are pretty simple - how he takes what should be corny phrases and turns them into personal and inspiring missiles is his real area of expertise.

He talks about a leader and I quote (off his website, where the speech was up within an hour after delivery!)

1. Leader must have a vision.
2. Leader must be able to travel into an unexplored path.
3. Leader must know how to manage a success and failure.
4. Leader must have courage to take decision.
5. Leader should have Nobility in management.
6. Every action of the leader should be transparent.
7. Leader should work with integrity and succeed with integrity.

He interjects with his own comments in between and what I loved after point 7 was ' Werry Difficult - what do you think?' and an uncategorizable laugh. He answered questions and the first one was started off by an older person in the typical Indian fashion of answering their own questions before asking it. It went something like ' I am so happy to be here and alive to have this opportunity and god has blessed me....' and Dr. Kalam goes, "What is the question, sir?" in a very kind and seriously funny way.

I wish I had had the opportunity to listen to such inspiring speakers when I was younger, without personal commitments and with that fire in my belly. Such people were not accessible in those days. They have to have existed, just that we were still in the days of 'if it is my destiny, then it will happen'. Pre-internet!

I was trying to see where I fit in to his plan 2020 (tonty-tonty - love that!) for India. All I could come up with were a very humble 'building good future citizens - family values, et al' and 'helping the disadvantaged get employable'. Both are very indirect ways of contributing....let's see what can be done about that!