The last Class – a tribute to India’s Missile Man

Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, more popular as Dr. APJ Abdul kalam, a true patriot, nationalist and an ocean of knowledge is a loss India will mourn for life. Having very humble beginnings as a newsboy, Dr. Kalam went on to become one of the pioneers of science and technology laying the cornerstone for modern India. It was under his visionary leadership that India conducted its first Nuclear test in Pokhran, making India the first nation in the subcontinent to have Nuclear weapons in arsenal.

Popularly named “Missile Man”, Dr. Kalam’s contribution in developing indigenous Missile technology is unmatched. The SLV-III and PSLV, India’s pride and world’s awe, also the launch pad for MOM (Magalyaan) as also several others are brain child of Dr. Kalam. Failing to cut into as an Air Force Fighter pilot, Dr. Kalam first joined in as a scientist with the DRDO where he created a small helicopter for the armed forces. But, unsatisfied with his job, he switched to DRDO where he created the foundation of military strength of today’s India.

Under his directorship, India achieved some great feats including India’s first indigenous satellite, as also Pokhran-I and Pokhran-II that marked India in the technology map of world.

Dr. Kalam also the 11^th President of India is probably the only befitting his tag of “People’s President”. From opening the Raisina Hills to common man to freelance visit for students, Dr. Kalam made Rastrapati Bhavan accessible to one and all. As a President, Dr. Kalam rose above all affiliations, to ensure doing all he could as India’s first citizen. As President, he was no easy-pass, he would weigh pro’s and con’s with the acumen of a true nationalist and has returned a record number of resolutions for re-consideration.

Sans his term as President, Dr. Kalam dedicated himself as an open book for the youth of the nation and had always been on the move, imparting and deciphering the vast ocean of knowledge he possessed. Even in his last days, he was a visiting faculty of IIMs Shillong, Ahmedabad and Indore, besides being the Chancellor of IIST Thiruvanantapuram, as also several other institutions.

Dr. Kalam was a man deeply rooted to his bases as an idealist Indian citizen, but at the same time he was extremely far sighted of the future as imminent from his authored books “INDIA 2020”, “Wings of Fire”, etc.

For a man who believed in investing all his wisdom in the nation’s youth, it’s only just that his last moments were at an address to the future of the nation at IIM Shillong. Dr. Kalam’s loss has left a profound void in the heart of every Indian and will be mourned for ever.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan- Cutting along the barbed lines of differences…

Bajrangi Bhaijaan is galloping along numbers, breaking past records

India and Pakistan, two independent, democratic siblings born out of shrewd and wicked application of the erstwhile British policy of “Divide and Rule” are at warfront ever since coming to existence owing to lack of mutual distrust and lacklustre efforts to resolve diplomatic differences among the respective leadership. But if there is something prominent amongst the many similarities of masses belonging to both sides of the barbed lines is the taste of entertainment. Both the siblings love their movies with the characteristic heroic plots revolving around intermediate songs, a characteristics of Bollywood. Both masses love and adore their reel life Superstars so as that there aren’t any fans but followers. So when “Bajrangi Bhaijaan” hit the floors with a message for masses across the barbed borders of division, little did it surprise anyone with its galloping march in box office collections.

Salman and Harshali in the Film

Bajrangi Bhaijaan is amongst the few films that has been critically acclaimed by critics of both sides for its marked positivity and beautiful storyline. The storyline revolves around a staunch devotee of Hindu Lord Hanuman coming to the rescue of a Muslim cutie pie alienated from her mother during her return journey to Pakistan after visiting the revered Hajrat Nizamuddin Chisti at Delhi. The action features the historic “Samjhauta Express”, one among the few common railroads between the two countries.

As the story progresses we see how differences brew suspicion amongst people of two sibling nations, so much as a Visa is denied to legally enter the neighbouring country to enable safe return of the lost child. But then, committed to the cause, the Hindu devotee, played by Salman Khan himself does the un-thinkable by entering into Pakistan illegally in pursuit of the lost child’s parents played by the adorable Harshali. The remaining story revolves around the hardships faced by Bajrangi( Salman) in convincing the Pakistani mass of his noble intentions, who doubt him as a Indian spy.

Nawaz has played an incredible part

Amongst all adversities faced, comes a helping hand in form of a local journalist, played by the charismatic Nawazudin Siddique who leaves no stone unturned in the search that seemed to be heading nowhere. The drama concludes amidst emotionally charged scenes of the girl finally uniting with her parents and Bajrangi getting caught as an illegal entrant into Pakistan. The scene closes with masses of Indian Occupied Kashmir and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir raising their voices, together in efforts to ensure a safe return of their Bajrangi Bhaijaan across to India, through the ugly barbed lines between us.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan is a distant plot from Salman Khan’s characteristic movies that are tastefully decorated with action scenes. Instead what is in offer is a plot that is full of emotions of love, kindness and affection for peoples of India and Pakistan for each other. Kabir Khan has shown yet agin why he is among the bests of business in direction. Nawaz proved yet again of being a heavy load of talent, but the star who stole limelight was cute Harshali with her high dose of sweetness. And Salman showed why he’s considered the master of Bollywood, a Superstar in true form.

The movie is indeed a treat to watch, a thorough entertainer with a beautiful message of unity and togetherness, cutting along the barbed lines of differences.

BB has been critically acclaimed across India and Pakistan

Coming Coming and Gone ….. Did Odisha create another Singur ?

POSCO Odisha now seems a distant dream.

POSCO India, one of modern-era’s humongous steel deal has finally shown signs of being over, for once and all. The multi-billion steel manufacturing unit was to be set up at Jagatsinghpur, Odisha which would have made the South Korean giant the largest overseas steel merchant in Indian shores. But domestic opposition backed by suspicious foreign support, coupled with a headless opposition has finally led to doom, a deal that had left the whole Asia in awe.

It all began in 2005, when a MOU was signed between the then South Korean regime and Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik leading way to a $12 billion investment to set up a mega-capacity steel plant in the otherwise faceless Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha. Right from the first day, the sheer size of the deal had the whole world in envy and POSCO India was expected to add-on great value to the mineral-rich yet poor state.

Kalinganagar Firing saw several casualties fueling unresty

CMAS rebels trained weapons

But, just like all good things, POSCO India was caught in stranger tides, when the local residents of the project site remained un-impressed with the idea of relocation and displacement, mostly citing lack of adequate compensation for their loss. Dialogues began and failed and with time slipping away, the state government tried use of force to evict the adamant agitators. What resulted in was un-

necessary blood shed leading to unwanted loss of life and also gave birth to the Chasi Mulia Adhivasi Sangha, a promoted tribal body banner-ed to oppose forceful eviction of the affected mass.

A twist in the tale was introduced when in 2014 it was discovered that foreign bodies with vested interest were funding the CMAS in its objective of blocking the POSCO Odisha project. Though disturbing, but such a report by the IB didn’t raise many eyebrows because such roadblocks were only expected in a project involving such huge numbers. As a result, the cover of CMAS and its premier Nachika Linga was blown off and the CMAS which was so far projecting itself as people’s saviour was on hot heels.

Eventually, the CMAS drama was over with a mass surrender of armed cadres and subsequently Nachika Linga was arrested. Land acquisition, which was now moving with a snail’s pace had now gathered some pace. But the final jolt was evident when PM Modi’s last visit to S.Korea had no mention of POSCO Odisha, a topic which ruled bi-lateral talks for the last decade- suspicion was born. The final air to this suspense was cleared today when POSCO India handed over it’s 2^nd floor, IDCO Towers office back to IDCO, and as we complete this write up perhaps POSCO India is being shelved back, a dream that was coming, kept coming and went away !!

POSCO India wears a deserted look.