Writers Editors Critics (WEC) (eBook)

Vol. 7, No. 1 (March 2017)

K.V. Dominic (Autor)

K.V. Dominic (Herausgeber)

eBook Download: EPUB

2017
176 Seiten
Loving Healing Press Inc (Verlag)
978-1-61599-338-3 (ISBN)

Infos

Writers Editors Critics (WEC) An International Biannual Refereed Journal of English Language and Literature
Volume 7 Number 1 (March 2017)
ISSN: 2231 - 198X

RESEARCH PAPERS

The Confessional Voice and Rebellious Cry of Kamala Das as Visualized in her Poetical Works: A Brief Analysis - S. Chelliah
The Philosopher-Scientist A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and his World View: A Study - J. Pamela
Artificial Intelligence and the Instrumental Marvellous in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Novels - Lekshmi R. Nair
Return to Wholeness: The Landscape of Willa Cather's O Pioneers! - Vikas Bhardwaj
Nation and Identity Defined through Bodies: A Study of Bapsi Sidhwa's Ice Candy Man - Sonia Soni
Ramesh K. Srivastava's 'Under the Lamp': A Study - Shipra G. Vashishtha
Reinventing Roots in Esther David's Book of Rachel - Giftsy Dorcas E.
A Critical Reading of Authentic Existence in Claude Mckay's Banana Bottom - S. Khethzi Kerena
'Write My Son, Write': An Aesthetic and Spiritual Reflection of World by K V Dominic - Laxmi R. Chaughaan
Nandini's Sita: A Deep Dive to Every Woman's Journey - Arti Chandel
Lives on Pyre: A Socio-realistic Portrayal in D.C. Chambial's The Cargoes of the Bleeding Hearts - Parthajit Ghosh& Dr. Madhu Kamra
An Evolution of His Demography: A Socio-cultural Flow in the Fictional World of Manoj Das - Suresh Bera & Somali Gupta
Maya Angelou's Shaker, Why Don't You Sing?: a Paroxysm of Confession - Ishita Pramanik & Dr. Shukla Banerjee

REVIEW ARTICLES
Eco-critical Perspectives in K. V. Dominic & Pamela Jeyaraju's (eds.) Environmental Literature: Research Papers and Poems - S. Barathi
T. V. Reddy's Melting Melodies: An Analysis - P. Bayapa Reddy
Critical Evaluation of T. V. Reddy's Melting Melodies - Dwarakanath H. Kabadi

BOOK REVIEWS
T. V. Reddy's Golden Veil: A Collection of Poems - Patricia Prime
Ramesh K. Srivastava's My Father's Bad Boy--An Autobiography - Smita Das
O. P. Arora's Whispers in the Wilderness: A Collection of Poems - Patricia Prime
Vijay Kumar Roy's Realm of Beauty and Truth: A Collection of Poems - Sugandha Agarwal

GENERAL ESSAYS
Regional Integration in South Asia: A Nepalese Perspective - Shreedhar Gautam
Role of Information Library Network (INFLIBNET) in Checking Plagiarism in Indian Universities - P. K. Suresh Kumar
Sojourn in Forests - Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
The Commonplace Economic Thoughts of a Seventy Five Years Old Lady - Mousumi Ghosh

INTERVIEW
Conversation with Subodh Sarkar - Jaydeep Sarangi

SHORT STORIES
Perils of Simplicity - Ramesh K. Srivastava
The Melody Queen - Jayanti M. Dalal (Trans. Dr. Rajshree Parthivv Trivedi)
A Strange Reunion --- Chandramoni Narayanaswamy
Is Human Life Precious than Animal's? - K. V. Dominic
Psychological Effect - Manas Bakshi

POEMS
Regain the Vision - T. V. Reddy
Down the Memory Lane - T. V. Reddy
Memories - T. V. Reddy
Patiently I Saw - D. C. Chambia

---

Writers Editors Critics (WEC) An International Biannual Refereed Journal of English Language and Literature Volume 7 Number 1 (March 2017) ISSN: 2231 - 198X RESEARCH PAPERS The Confessional Voice and Rebellious Cry of Kamala Das as Visualized in her Poetical Works: A Brief Analysis - S. Chelliah The Philosopher-Scientist A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and his World View: A Study - J. Pamela Artificial Intelligence and the Instrumental Marvellous in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Novels - Lekshmi R. Nair Return to Wholeness: The Landscape of Willa Cather's O Pioneers! - Vikas Bhardwaj Nation and Identity Defined through Bodies: A Study of Bapsi Sidhwa's Ice Candy Man - Sonia Soni Ramesh K. Srivastava's "e;Under the Lamp"e;: A Study - Shipra G. Vashishtha Reinventing Roots in Esther David's Book of Rachel - Giftsy Dorcas E. A Critical Reading of Authentic Existence in Claude Mckay's Banana Bottom - S. Khethzi Kerena "e;Write My Son, Write"e;: An Aesthetic and Spiritual Reflection of World by K V Dominic - Laxmi R. Chaughaan Nandini's Sita: A Deep Dive to Every Woman's Journey - Arti Chandel Lives on Pyre: A Socio-realistic Portrayal in D.C. Chambial's The Cargoes of the Bleeding Hearts - Parthajit Ghosh& Dr. Madhu Kamra An Evolution of His Demography: A Socio-cultural Flow in the Fictional World of Manoj Das - Suresh Bera & Somali Gupta Maya Angelou's Shaker, Why Don't You Sing?: a Paroxysm of Confession - Ishita Pramanik & Dr. Shukla Banerjee REVIEW ARTICLES Eco-critical Perspectives in K. V. Dominic & Pamela Jeyaraju's (eds.) Environmental Literature: Research Papers and Poems - S. Barathi T. V. Reddy's Melting Melodies: An Analysis - P. Bayapa Reddy Critical Evaluation of T. V. Reddy's Melting Melodies - Dwarakanath H. Kabadi BOOK REVIEWS T. V. Reddy's Golden Veil: A Collection of Poems - Patricia Prime Ramesh K. Srivastava's My Father's Bad Boy--An Autobiography - Smita Das O. P. Arora's Whispers in the Wilderness: A Collection of Poems - Patricia Prime Vijay Kumar Roy's Realm of Beauty and Truth: A Collection of Poems - Sugandha Agarwal GENERAL ESSAYS Regional Integration in South Asia: A Nepalese Perspective - Shreedhar Gautam Role of Information Library Network (INFLIBNET) in Checking Plagiarism in Indian Universities - P. K. Suresh Kumar Sojourn in Forests - Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya The Commonplace Economic Thoughts of a Seventy Five Years Old Lady - Mousumi Ghosh INTERVIEW Conversation with Subodh Sarkar - Jaydeep Sarangi SHORT STORIES Perils of Simplicity - Ramesh K. Srivastava The Melody Queen - Jayanti M. Dalal (Trans. Dr. Rajshree Parthivv Trivedi) A Strange Reunion --- Chandramoni Narayanaswamy Is Human Life Precious than Animal's? - K. V. Dominic Psychological Effect - Manas Bakshi POEMS Regain the Vision - T. V. Reddy Down the Memory Lane - T. V. Reddy Memories - T. V. Reddy Patiently I Saw - D. C. Chambia

Textauszug

The Philosopher-Scientist A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and his World View: A Study

J. Pamela

Abstract: The essay is a study of the role of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam as a Philosopher-Scientist. It traces his life from his childhood days as a middle-class, religious and cloistered student to his life as a studious young scientist holding many a prestigious chair. The essay focuses on how Dr. Kalam amalgamates the two contrasting factors—science and spirituality—and evolves a cult of his own. It also discusses how he lived by this promising code of conduct and inspires the younger generation to follow suit.

Keywords: Philosopher-Scientist, scientific technology, spirituality, dreams, world view

In answer to a student’s question about the difference between a scientist and a philosopher, former President of India, the rocket scientist, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam replied thus:

A scientist deals with theory which has to be validated. A philosopher postulates theological, philosophical and spiritual thoughts, the validation of which are the societal dynamics. Science ultimately results in technology and benefits the society. Philosophy leads the way to the dynamics of society (Indomitable Spirit 34).

Kalam’s ability to be a harmonious inhabitant of both scientific knowledge as well as philosophical theory is a significant one which has to be followed by the younger generation whom Kalam held in particular concern. A keen listener that he was, he acknowledges that what his father professed as divinity. His father had extended the idea thus: “‘Release yourself from the bindings that limit you and let that power overtake your mind, and that’s when you will be on the road to true happiness and peace’” (My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions 7). Kalam admits that his father’s preaching still resonates in his mind despite his years into scientific technology.

Kalam quite often highlights the fact that his mother’s presence during his childhood has a meaningful significance to it despite her cloistered life and lack of education. His memories of his childhood and the power that his simple upbringing had over his noteworthy life had been everlasting and contained the love of his parents and their honest hard work.

While his parents inculcated the habit of simplicity, honesty and perseverance in him, Ahmed Jalalluddin, a distant relative and later his brother-in-law was yet another life-long inspiration that Kalam was blessed enough to have. Kalam reminiscences about him thus: “Walking with him in the streets of Rameswaram, . . . , my mind began to form ideas and ambitions” (Journey 15). In fact in his autobiography, Wings of Fire, Kalam ardently says that “It was he who made me aware of a “brave, new world” beyond our narrow confines” (7). Thus Jalalluddin may be said to have sown the seeds of bigger interests in the mind of a small town boy who knew little apart from a coastal town living in harmony with its religious, cultural and economic diversity.

Kalam’s father who taught him the power of the divine power also educates him that the merciful powers can also sometimes be destructive. Nature in all its abundance had fed the family with its waves, fishes and coconut groves. Yet Kalam had the opportunity to witness the deadly power of Nature when the cyclone of 1964 left the island town in shambles. Kalam attributes his stoicism to his father and his this one experience as a scientist when he struggled to give shape to the Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) rocket, or the Prithvi and Agni missiles, when the launches were disrupted and when the launch sites were rained upon (Journey 18).

The World War II and the poor economic conditions put forth a new challenge to Kalam. His large and extended family felt the strain of feeding its many members. Samsuddin, Kalam’s cousin, was a newspaper distribution agent who came up with an encouraging proposal of distributing newspapers to the thousand literates of Rameswaram. Kalam was delighted by the proposal and at eight years of age is happy that he is able to help his family. Kalam also knew well that time will not wait for him and that he had to compete with it with all his resourcefulness and intelligence. This became his daily routine later in life—a routine he never regretted nor had time to ruminate upon.

Kalam is proud of his motherland that he calls her “a syncretic creation of the best of our diverse traditions” (40). He remembers his childhood with affection, for the “divisions and vicissitudes of the outside world rarely made their way” into the town in which he lived, the society in which he grew up or the thoughts that populated the men and women around him (31). It did not have any effect on his mind. The “three patriarchs”—as he remembers his father Jainullabdin, the high priest of Rameswaram temple, Pakshi Lakshmanasastry, and Father Bodal the priest of the lone church in Rameswaram—of the locality saw to it that the sense of harmony continued to rule the place. He earnestly says that the “fundamental requirement for peace—effective communication among sections of the people—was always kept alive by these three patriarchs” (Journey 34). In his unassuming simplicity, but with conviction, he states “it must always be our inner convictions and strength of beliefs that dictate our actions. External forces, temptations and counsels will always be dinned into us, but those among us who can stand up to what we innately believe to be good and right will finally be at peace with ourselves” (Journey 39-40). Nevertheless, he warns the citizens of India of those “people with unscrupulous agendas” who can disrupt the peace and the democratic ambience.

There is one aspect that is most valuable to Kalam—failure. He speaks of its significance and its inevitability thus: “I firmly believe that unless one has tasted the bitter pill of failure, one cannot aspire enough for success. I have seen both sides of the coin and have learnt life’s toughest lessons when I have stared into the pit of despair that failure brings with it” (Journey 71). A lost man in many instances, he is right in revering failure and being wary of it. He has tasted it and is the right person to judge it, stating its power to malign as well as push someone to his potential’s limits thus bringing out the best in a person.

Kalam’s memories of many instances of failure are incomplete without his earnest descriptions of a teacher or a mentor who made the occasion memorable by his guidance and sometimes by being a hard taskmaster. Even so, he is full of gratefulness to all of them for having tapped into his potential and for having been a catalyst and inspiring or completing his journey towards success. He attributes all his accolades—national or international—to those teachers or mentors. One such instance takes place at MIT where Kalam was a student of aeronautics. His design teacher was Professor Srinivasan, also the head of the institute. Kalam, one of a team of four, was directed to design a low-level attack aircraft. He was in charge of its aerodynamics design. When the Professor comes back to scrutinize his final product, he is disappointed sorely which puts Kalam to shame. The Professor also demands a new and impossible deadline from Kalam and warns him that if he does not succeed his scholarship will be terminated. A shocked Kalam, with painful memories of his parents, sister and Jallaludin’s hard work and his own ambitions, sets himself down to work like one possessed. Not only does he fulfill his deadline, he is also praised for his ‘outstanding’ work. Kalam’s words that put forth the two lessons that he learnt that day are worthy commandments for an ambitious student and all men and women:

a teacher who has his or her student’s progress in mind is the best possible friend, because the teacher knows how to make sure that you excel. And second, there is no such thing as an impossible deadline. I have worked on many tough assignments, some of which had the country’s top leaders watching over my work, but the assurance I gained in my capabilities at MIT thanks to Professor Srinivasan, helped me later in life too (Journey 74).

Kalam had been rubbing shoulders with failure frequently. Another lesson learnt with much heartbreak is his failed venture into the Air Force. He is graceful enough to admit that though he had the qualifications and engineering knowledge yet he lacked “a certain kind of ‘smartness’” that the Selection Board was looking for (76). What makes this relevant to the younger generation is the incident that followed—a visit and lesson learnt. Disappointed, Kalam leaves Dehradun for Rishikesh. He has a dip in the Ganges and meets Swami Sivanandha in his ashram, the experience which he describes as “a strange vibration, a sense of tranquility that was like a balm for my restless soul” (Journey 77). The Swamiji’s words cleanse him of all doubts and give him clarity of purpose. The sadhu says:

Accept you destiny and go ahead with your life. You are not destined to become and air force pilot. What you are destined to become is not revealed bow but it is predetermined. Forget this failure, as it was essential to lead you to your destined path. Search, instead, for the true purpose of your existence . . . surrender yourself to the wish of God....

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 1.3.2017
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Romane / Erzählungen
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Sprach- / Literaturwissenschaft ► Literaturwissenschaft
• Schlagworte: Asian • India • Indic • literary collections • Literary criticism • Novel • Poetry
• ISBN-10: 1-61599-338-X / 161599338X
• ISBN-13: 978-1-61599-338-3 / 9781615993383