Kalam’s kalma for life

A new art-based web comic juxtaposes late APJ Abdul Kalam’s words with pressures faced by youngsters today

The more decisions you can make avoiding external pressures, the better your life will be, the better your society will become

Former President late APJ Abdul Kalam was keen to pass on his learnings, particularly to the youth. Kalam’s inspiring and motivational message and minimalistic lifestyle forms the basis for a new art-based web comic. It has been animated by an online comic portal run by Australia-based freelance artist Gavin Aung Than.

Than writes that the late president was a deeply spiritual man and practiced what he preached, shunning material possessions and rewards.

The comic juxtaposes Kalam’s words with a depiction of various pressures faced by today’s young people.

“The culture of working only for material possessions and rewards must be discarded,” Kalam said.

“Are you aware of your inner signals? Do you trust them? Have you taken control over your life into your own hands? Take this from me, the more decisions you can make avoiding external pressures, which will constantly try to manipulate you, the better your life will be, the better your society will become,” the former President said.

In a note accompanying the comic Than writes about how Kalam dreamt of becoming a pilot and studied aeronautical engineering at the Madras Institute of Technology. While Kalam was devastated at not fulfilling his pilot dream he picked himself up and accepted a new path and went to work for the Ministry of Defence. “Life is a difficult game. You can win only by retaining your birthright to be a person,” Kalam said. The final message of the comic reads, “...and to retain this right, you will have to be willing to take the social or external risks involved in ignoring pressures to do things the way others say they should be done.”

Besides Kalam other Indian personalities featured on the site include Rabindranath Tagore, Jiddu Krishnamurti and Mahatma Gandhi.

Late APJ Abdul Kalam