The Power of Prayer by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

This ppt illustrates a very fine extract written by India's former President Late APJ Abdul Kalam.

1. The Power of Prayer - APJ Abdul Kalam

2. About the Author: Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (1931-2015), the former President of India and a distinguished scientist was born on 15 th  October 1931 at Rameswaram in Tamilnadu . Kalam specialized in Aeronautical Engineering from Madras Institute of Technology (IIT, Madras). He was the Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister and Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development. He took up the responsibility of developing indigenous guided missiles. He became President of India on 25 th  July 2002.  “Wings of Fire”, “India 2020 – A Vision for the New Millennium”, “My Journey” and “Ignited Minds” are the famous books written by him.

3. Introduction                                                                      The article “The Power of Prayer” is an extract from Kalam’s autobiography, “The Wings of Fire”. In this chapter, Kalam recollects his childhood days and speaks about his parents and birth place. He proudly pays tribute to his parents and God for the present life he enjoys. Kalam’s early religious impressions were very vague. It is from a child’s perception. But later he gets matured enough to understand that ‘God is one and all ’. He shares his memories with his parents, friends and the power of prayer.

4. Kalam’s birth and parentage: Abdul Kalam was born in the island town of Rameswaram . He was born into a middle class family. His father, Jainulabdeen was neither very rich nor well educated. But he was a wise and generous man. He was a true spiritual human being. His mother Ashiamma was a kind and pious woman. Her family was given the title “ Bahadur ” by the British Government. The influence of the good-natured parents made the child, Kalam to come out as a great lovable personality in life. Kalam’s family lived in a large pucca house which is the ancestral one. It is found on the Mosque Stree in Rameswaram . Kalam was a short and dark boy. He lived in their ancestral home. His father did not like any luxuries but provided all necessities to them. Kalam lived a secure childhood.

5. Amicable nature of Hindus and Muslims: Kalam lived in an area where Muslims were the majority. There were a few Hindu families also in that locality. The Hindus lived amicable with their Muslim neighbours . The Hindsu came to the mosque with water in vessels. They got this water blessed by the prayers of Kalam’s father. Then this was given to invalids at home. The Hindu priest, Pakshi Lakshmanan Sastry and Kalam’s father were close friends. They often discussed spiritual matters . Rameshwaram was a Hindu pilgrim centre . The Siva temple was very famous. Kalam’s locality was full of Muslim people with few Hindu families. Muslims and Hindus lived happily. Kalam went to the old Mosque every evening with his father. He did notunderstand the Arabic prayers but believed that they reached God.

6. After the prayer, People of different religions keep the bowls of water and Kalam’s father tipped his fingers in the water and prayed. They believe the Holy water cured there diseases. They thanked his father’s but he replied the praise should be dedicated to the almighty Allah. Kalam wondered at his father’s curative powers and humility.

7. Kalam’s father was very friendly with the high priest of Rameshwaram temple. They discussed about the spiritual matters. Kalam asked the meaning of prayer to his father. His father said to him that prayer could foster spiritual communion among people and God. Prayer transcends wealth, religion, caste and creed. Everybody is a part of the universe. Nobody should fear for difficulties and suffering. They are opportunities for self-communication and progress.

8. Value of Prayer According to Kalam’s father, He acts as a messenger between people and God. Prayer conquers demonic forces and brings relief and success. Thus, Kalam understood the value of prayer from his father.

9. Kalam’s father was a systematic man. Daily, he rose at 4:00 a.m and read the Namaz . Then, he walked to his coconut grove and returned with a dozen coconuts. Kalam took his father as his model. He also learned some fundamental truths about the universe. Later, he followed them in his world of science and technology.

10. Kalam’s father built a wooden boat with the help of his relative Ahmad Jallaluddin . He transported pilgrims between Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi . He did good business with it. One day a cyclone destroyed the boat. They try to save the passengers. His father saved them whole-heartedly.

11. Jallaluddeen and Kalam become close friends. They often walked together. They discussed spiritual matters when they went around the Siva temple with the Hindu Pilgrims. They watched the rituals and they believed that the prayers of the pilgrims reached God. Thus, Kalam developed an open outlook. This made him a man who loved people of all religions.

12. Jallaluddeen could not get higher education but he had good English Knowledge. He helped many people and encouraged Kalam in his education. He introduced scientific discoveries, contemporary literature and medical achievements. Kalam read many books from lending them from a revolutionary man named S.T.R. Manickam . Samsuddin was Kalam’s cousin. He was a newspaper agent. Kalam earned money by distributing papers. During the World War II, there was a demand for tamarind seeds and Kalam picked and sold them

13. The importance of prayer: Kalam’s father influenced the boy Kalam on spiritual matters. Even when Kalam chanted prayers with his father in the mosque, he did not have the faintest idea of the meaning of the Arabic prayers. But he was convinced that they reached God. Kalam used to asked his father about the relevance of prayer. His father told him that there were nothing mysterious about prayer. According to him prayer made possible a communion the spirit between people. Prayer transcends one’s body and becomes a part of cosmos. It knows no division of wealth, age, caste or creed, he told Kalam . He often told Kalam about simple truths of life in down-to-earth. He firmly said that every human being “is a specific element within the whole of the manifest divine being”. Hence, Kalam understands that every individual is born with a divine power in him. A man should give wings to this power and fill the world with the glow of its goodness. Anything that is done by a man is the expression of God’s will. He believes that what he ahs achieved in the field of science is the result of God’s intention.

14. Conclusion Thus, genuine men moulded Kalam . He inherited self-discipline from his father, and faith in goodness and kindness for his mother. His companionship with Jallaluddeen , Samsuddin and S.T.R.Manikam had greatest influence on his life. His success was largely because of his practical wisdom. Kalam in his autobiography praises and thanks his parents for the formation of his character. He sincerely glorifies God, for having chosen him to achieve great tasks. The chapter reflects Kalam’s simplicity and submissiveness.

15. Thank You...!