BlueBee Posted August 1, 2015 Posted August 1, 2015 New Delhi: Two days after 'People's President' APJ Abdul Kalam was laid to rest with full state honours, the social media is a buzz with pictures of the 'Missile man' on currency notes. The pictures of Dr Kalam on the currency of India have been going viral on the internet. At present 'Father of the nation' Mahatma Gandhi's photo is on the currency notes. The "People's President" was accorded full military honours, including gun salute and playing of the Last Post as the members of his family and local Jamath lowered his mortal remains into a trench as slogans of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" rent the air. The funeral of the "Missile Man" was attended by a galaxy of leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who placed a wreath, offered his final salute and stood in silence in front of Kalam's body that was draped in national flag. He also went around the casket with folded hands. The former president died on July 27 after he suffered a massive cardiac arrest and collapsed during a lecture at the IIM Shillong. An avid backer of nuclear technology, the visionary Kalam was an integral part of the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests undertaken by the A B Vajpayee-led NDA Government. The veteran scientist also backed the controversial Indo-Russian joint venture Koodankulam Nuclear power project in the state, which was strongly opposed by the People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE). Having risen through the ranks of the Indian scientific community, Kalam inspired many of his fellow citizens, especially youngsters, urging them to have a dream, for the progress of themselves and the country. This instantly struck a chord with youngsters and students, with aspiring engineers, doctors and scientists looking upon him as a living example worth emulating. The former president has been 'trending' on the online fora, with thousands of Twitterati and Facebook users heaping encomiums on him. http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/india-wants-apj-abdul-kalam-on-currency-notes_1640015.html
Anitha Posted August 1, 2015 Posted August 1, 2015 So this is what will happen. We will have statues and roads and images on notes for one of the humblest and best person our country ever had. And no one will remember or try to follow his values or teachings. This is the problem with venerating and revering great people. You then build a barrier between such "great" people and the common man. People look up to them as some sort of mahatma or amazing man who the common people cannot follow. Instead I am sure Kalam would have been happier if he is looked up to as someone who had risen despite his background and faced every problem to achieve greatness which any citizen of India can and should emulate.
Sachin=GOD Posted August 1, 2015 Posted August 1, 2015 So this is what will happen. We will have statues and roads and images on notes for one of the humblest and best person our country ever had. And no one will remember or try to follow his values or teachings. This is the problem with venerating and revering great people. You then build a barrier between such "great" people and the common man. People look up to them as some sort of mahatma or amazing man who the common people cannot follow. Instead I am sure Kalam would have been happier if he is looked up to as someone who had risen despite his background and faced every problem to achieve greatness which any citizen of India can and should emulate. This. Our country would be so much better in all aspects if only we would follow the values and principals of great men instead of making such empty gestures in the name of 'respect'.
BeautifulGame Posted August 1, 2015 Posted August 1, 2015 Reading some of those tweets trending not sure whether its becoz of the affection for Kalam or becoz they cant stand Gandhiji in currency notes.
Anitha Posted August 1, 2015 Posted August 1, 2015 Reading some of those tweets trending not sure whether its becoz of the affection for Kalam or becoz they cant stand Gandhiji in currency notes. That is a problem isn't it. Few years down the line some upstart will not be able to stand Kalam and will want someone else
swatpulla Posted August 2, 2015 Posted August 2, 2015 Reading some of those tweets trending not sure whether its becoz of the affection for Kalam or becoz they cant stand Gandhiji in currency notes. That's the reason. A lot Gandhi haters have rooted for several personalities to be on our currency notes and Kalam's death has given them an excuse to put forward another nominee. I personally believe that celebrating his birthday as some kind of science/education day or starting our biggest scholarship programs in his name will be a better way to honor him. Tribute to him has to be a part of his vision, and currency notes don't define Abdul Kalam at all.
EnterTheVoid Posted August 2, 2015 Posted August 2, 2015 Passed by the Indian High Commission in Canberra the other day. They had the flag lowered to half mast:
jonas10 Posted August 2, 2015 Posted August 2, 2015 Gandhi should be on one note not all of them. America and Canada dont have 1 person on all the notes. Should India emulate Pakistan or America?
zubinpepsi Posted August 2, 2015 Posted August 2, 2015 i dont know about Kalam.. But Gandhi should never been on any currency....
Anitha Posted August 2, 2015 Posted August 2, 2015 i dont know about Kalam.. But Gandhi should never been on any currency.... Why not?
Anitha Posted August 2, 2015 Posted August 2, 2015 That's the reason. A lot Gandhi haters have rooted for several personalities to be on our currency notes and Kalam's death has given them an excuse to put forward another nominee. I personally believe that celebrating his birthday as some kind of science/education day or starting our biggest scholarship programs in his name will be a better way to honor him. Tribute to him has to be a part of his vision, and currency notes don't define Abdul Kalam at all. I really do not understand the Gandhi hate among the current generation. It is the simplest thing in the world to mock non-violence, etc when sitting in the comfort of the home after 65 years of independence and reading some one or two biased articles about. There is a reason he is respected throughout the world and not just in India. Times change and ideology change. You cannot judge someone from 200 years ago based on today's ideals can you?
Gollum Posted August 2, 2015 Posted August 2, 2015 Better chance of finding Rehan Gandhi's face on a note than APJ's. No AdLib will ever allow great nationalists (like APJ) to get their due. They will start doing danga, rono dhona and what not.
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