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

 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.

 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’.

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’s childhood days:

Kalam records in his autobiography about his appearance as a little boy. Kalam was small and short in  stature and had undistinguished looks. His father, the most humble man avoided all inessentials, comforts and luxuries. But Kalam was provided with all the necessities like food, medicine, and clothes.

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.

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.

Conclusion:

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.