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Unite minds to face challenges
before the nation: Kalam

Just back from a visit to riot-torn Gujarat, President A P J Abdul Kalam on Wednesday said acts counter to non-violence, tolerance and acceptance of all religions would pose a threat to the fabric of free India.

In his first address to the nation on the eve of the Independence Day, Kalam said without the unity of mind the country cannot sustain a "second vision" for itself.

Maintaining that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and not an international issue, he said India is ready for a bilateral dialogue with Pakistan once cross-border terrorism is brought to a complete end.

Outlining the challenges facing the country, he said: "We have to eradicate communal and other divisive clashes sprouting in certain parts and remove the pains of our people whether it is in J&K or in any other part of our country."

He also said that the country has to find a permanent solution to combat terrorism.

Kalam said non-violence, tolerance, acceptance of all religions and different ways of life, search for truth and fearlessness is our civilisational heritage and, therefore, of Indian polity. Any act by anyone, anywhere in India that runs counter to these eternal values would pose a threat to the fabric of free Indian nation which was born and nurtured by the supreme sacrifices of countless noble souls," he said.

The President said there was need for all to work together to achieve the mission for unity of minds to preserve what has been so preciously earned by the country and reach greater heights in the future.

Recalling the dominant thought that came to his mind during his visit to Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram, he said: "If we can go above our own personal hardships and see the problems of others and decide to work for a larger cause, then there is natural elevation of our minds. When we are lax in this, then our level of thinking goes down. I felt confident that all of us can be elevated to the level of noble minds, if we just decide to understand others and to practice tolerance."

Asserting that the country needed a second vision similar to the first, which created a movement to achieve freedom, with unity of minds of the people and the unity of purpose in actions, Kalam said: "We need a second vision which will integrate people from all walks of our society towards a common purpose."

The second vision, he said was to transform the country from its present developing status to a developed nation by integrated actions in areas of agriculture, food processing, education, healthcare and infrastructure development, including power, information, communication and critical technologies.

"This great vision will aim to alleviate poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. When the minds of the people of our country are unified and fused towards this vision, the dormant potential will manifest as a mammoth power leading to a happy and prosperous life for a billion people," he said.

PTI

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Text of President Kalam's address to nation
The President of India

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