CHENNAI: A collection of important speeches of late President APJ Abdul Kalam, titled Valarntha Bharathathil Vazhvom (Let us live in developed India), was released here on Wednesday.
Published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, it is a collection speeches delivered at various Ramakrishna Mission centres. Releasing the book, Meghalaya Governor V Shanmuganathan recalled in detail his association with Kalam for many years and the need for realising his dreams for the development of the country and its youth. Stating that poverty was still prevailing in many sections of the society, he underscored the role of youth in alleviating this.
Swami Vimurtananda, editor, Sri Ramakrishna Vijayam, said Kalam lived the ideals of Swami Vivekananda and both believed that it was the youth who held the key for the future of the country. While Vivekananda dreamt of an ‘awakened India’, Kalam wanted the youth to live in a ‘developed India’, a goal suited to the current situation.
G Viswanathan, founder and Chancellor, VIT University, Vellore, Y S Rajan, scientist and a close associate of Abdul Kalam and Swami Gautamananda, president, Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, spoke on Kalam’s memorable life and quoted many examples from the life of the former president.
Kalam’s elder brother Muthu Meera Maraikayar has sent his message of felicitation for the event.