“Dream, dream, dream. Dream transforms into thoughts. Thoughts result in actions”
An inspiring book written by our ex-president, the post which got a new meaning during his incumbency. The object of this work, according to him, is to ignite young minds so that India can realize its full potential. Dr Kalam places enormous trust on the power of India’s youth to make a difference and fulfill his vision of a developed India. This book comes about with a blast of fresh air, explains what a ‘thinking person’ is all about, and how the imaginative mind can unleash ideas. Attractive in its simplicity and extraordinary in its potential the book is thought provoking.
Without undermining the skills, resources and talents that India is capable of, he explains why we are not able to produce noble laureates in spite of the mad rush at the IITs and why, we, so obviously capable of being the best, settle so often for the worst. He beautifully explains how the nexus of education and spirituality can work wonders to take one onto the road of self-realization. To quote him, “We have to learn to ignite our inner energy, which is lying dormant, and make it the guide of our lives. The radiance of such minds will bring peace, prosperity and bliss to this nation“.
He goes onto explain the importance of role model and the need of the visionaries like the JRD Tata, Dr. Vikram Sarabhi and Dr.Verghese Kurien(architect of Operation Flood—the largest dairy development program in the world) all of who devised mission driven programs and involved the nation in the same. He portrays his secular outlook when he says that:
“For great men, religion is a way of making friends; small people make religion a fighting tool.”
Illustrating his views with various handpicked examples, sharing life instances and works of many great scholars and his experiences during his pilgrimage of India, he makes the reading lively. He visualizes developed India as a ‘network of villages empowered with telecommunication, tele-medicine and e-commerce’, as according to him India today is ‘a developing nation’ because of ‘fragmented thinking compartmentalized planning and isolated efforts’.
The major strength of this book lies in the name itself, where he ignite the minds of the youth who can bring revolutions in the world and can change the scenario of the nation. Weakness of this book lies in just dealing with the matters of youth and enlightening their minds whereas India is being ruled by many age old people who also need to be motivated to bring revolutions that is right for the nation and that too through fair means.
This is the book that motivates us to get back on the winning track, shows the path and unleashes the energy within a nation that hasn’t realized its full potential.
Ink In My Tea 