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Unit 4: My Vision for India by APJ Abdul Kalam

many years. It is a true testimonial to his character, simplicity, wisdom and personal integrity. Notes
May he live long to guide the destiny of our country.

4.1 My Vision for India

“Sight is about what lies right in front of us. Vision is what lies ahead” goes the old adage.
India is an old civilization and an extremely complex society. Her glorious past, natural
beauty, resources, vast size and above all her unique geographical location has always given
her the pride of place in the world. With the ups and downs of history it has retained its
vibrancy. Yet, due to callousness and lethargy on our part and due to the negative slant of the
media here, we as a nation have not been able to attain the status of a developed nation thus
far.
In this famous speech delivered in Hyderabad, Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam outlines his three visions
for his motherland India and pleads for Indians to be involved in the nation-building process
and to make India a developed nation.

First Vision: Freedom

In 3000 years of our history, people from all over the world have come and invaded us,
captured our lands and conquered our minds. From Alexander onwards, the Greeks, the
Portuguese, the British, the French, the Dutch, all of them came and looted us, took over what
was ours. Yet, we have not done this to any other nation. We have not conquered anyone. We
have not grabbed their land, their culture, their history and tried to enforce our way of life
on them. Why? Because, we respect the freedom of others, and that is the reason for his first
vision of Freedom. India got its first vision of this in the Indian Rebellion in the year 1857,
when we started the war of Independence. It is this freedom that we must protect and nurture
and build on.
That is why my first vision is that of FREEDOM. I believe that India got its first vision of this
in 1857, when we started the war of independence. It is this freedom that we must protect and
nurture and built on. If we are not free, no one will respect us.

Second Vision: Development

My second vision for India is Development. For fifty years we have been a developing nation.
It is time we see ourselves as a developed nation. We are among top 5 nations of the world
in terms of GDP. We have 10 per cent growth rate in most areas. Our poverty levels are falling,
our achievements are being globally recognized today. Yet we lack the self-confidence to see
ourselves as a developed nation, self reliant and self assured. Isn’t this right?

Third Vision: India must stand up to the World

I have a third vision. That India must STAND UP TO THE WORLD. Because I believe that
unless India stands up to the world, no one will respect us. Only strength respects strength.
We must be strong not only as a military power but also as an economic power. Both must
go hand-in-hand.

My good fortune was to have work with three great minds. Dr Vikram Sarabhai of the Dept.
of space, Professor Satish Dhawan, who succeeded him, and Dr. Brahm Prakash, father of
nuclear material. I was lucky to have worked with all three of them closely and consider this
the great opportunity of my life.
I see four milestones in my career:

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