Spending 33 years under the tutelage of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was an unmatched blessing for me. I started as his subordinate scientist at the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad in 1982, and earned his confidence to handle his mandate of developing civilian spinoffs of defence technologies for the benefit of the people. This unique work led to the development of an indigenous and affordable coronary stent in 1995 and the creation of the foundation for the Indian MedTech industry, valued at $11 billion in 2023. Dr Kalam made me the co-author of his autobiography, Wings of Fire, in 1999. It turned out to be a modern classic, selling more than two million copies with translations in 18 languages.
During the 2001 earthquake relief work in Kutch in Gujarat, Dr Kalam came into contact with the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. Impressed by their work, he sought an audience with Pramukh Swamiji. They met on June 30, 2001 in Delhi. During the discussion on how India could become a developed country, Pramukh Swamiji surprised Dr Kalam by telling him that any amount of material development is futile without the spiritual development of the people. Such pursuits have created immense problems and suffering elsewhere in the world. To everyone’s surprise, Pramukh Swamiji blessed Dr Kalam by putting his hand on his head and asking him to “lead India” in that direction.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 25, 2024 من THE WEEK India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 25, 2024 من THE WEEK India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Mother nurture
Padmini Janaki promises to be with women on their fertility journeys, whether virtually or in person
THE BULLY AND THE BULLIED
The prevalence of bullying in India is very high. With easy access to internet and social media, it has only got worse. There is a need for awareness and resources in how to handle not just the victims but also the perpetrators with care
TRAINING THE BRAIN
Sports mastery is a lot more than physical capability; it shapes the brain, too
The truth about teeth
Neglecting dental health can have varied repercussions
Mpox won't spread as fast as Covid, but the world needs to gear up
The surge in mpox cases following the outbreak in Africa is unprecedented: 18,000 cases and more than 600 deaths have been reported this year. The World Health Organization has declared it a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
CYCLING TO WORK LOWERS RISK OF DISEASE, DEATH
Cycling or walking to and from work or school has immense mental and physical health benefits and may lower your risk of death, finds a Scottish study published in the journal BMJ Public Health.
NEW ANTIDOTE FOR COBRA BITES
A commonly prescribed blood thinner-heparincan be repurposed as an inexpensive and effective antidote for cobra venom.
VEGAN DIET CAN SLOW BIOLOGICAL AGE IN JUST 8 WEEKS
Eating a vegan diet, even for a short duration, may help you slow down the biological ageing process, finds a new study published in BMC Medicine.
THE DANGERS OF EXCESS BELLY AND ARM FAT
A new Chinese study published in the journal Neurology suggests that people with high levels of fat in their arms or belly have an increased risk for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
NO HEALTH BENEFITS TO MODERATE DRINKING
Drinking a glass of wine daily may not be healthy after all.
