Let's not say "Rest In Peace" Dr. Kalam

Let’s not say “Rest In Peace” Dr. Kalam. Yes, You read it right, I would not say Rest in Peace. In fact, I would not even pray that such soul should “Rest in Peace”. Before, you get angry on me, please read my appeal to all of us.

I was surprised to see, how quickly all social medias were filled with RIP message for Dr. Kalam. Billions of us felt sad on his demise, post some of his pictures and quotes on social media, talks about his achievements with friends and life moves on. It is natural to feel sad on death but problem is, we all are so habitual to pay tribute to anyone like this; weather he is the best scientist or a common man killed in bomb blast or road accidents. Let’s face it, it is not a tribute but mockery of his death because we JUST feel sad. But, just feeling sad about his demise would change anything? Simple answer is No. Dr. Kalam himself said once, “Please do not declare national holiday on my death, rather work for one extra day”. That exactly is my point.  Let’s not just feel sad about his death. Let’s do something that brings some change to the present situation of our life and thereby bring some change in our nation. I am not asking to build rocket or conduct some radioactive experiments like him but do very simple and basic thing.

Can we take pledge that now onwards that I will not waste food as a tribute to the person who fought against hunger? Can we all take pledge that we will not throw garbage anywhere for next 6 months as tribute the person who saw godliness in cleanliness? Can we all pledge to plant one tree and take care of it just for 1 year as a tribute the person who respected environment? Can we all take pledge to drive carefully and respectfully for next 6 months as a tribute the most civilized person? Can we take pledge that, I will donate blood every year on July 27^th as a tribute to the health conscious person?  Can we take pledge that, I will do my best to study all my subjects thoroughly as a tribute to the great teacher? Can we take pledge that, I will not take bribe or bribe anyone for next 6 months as a tribute to the most honest person? Can we take pledge that, I will save Rs. 500 every month and donate that money to educational institute as a tribute to the most charitable man? Can we all pledge that I will respect all citizens as a human first as a tribute the noblest man? Can we all take pledge that, I will respect human soul first before respecting any religion as a tribute to the most spiritual man? Can we all take pledge that I will not drink one coffee per day for a year and use that money to buy a book for the needy as a tribute to the most avid reader? We all can come up with millions of such pledges.

These are just few simple things that we can do as a tribute to him. Dr. Kalam’s soul would feel much better, if we all do the simplest etiquette first. These sure are simple pledges but when billions will take these pledges then life and thereby nation will change. Wouldn’t he preach the same?

And I feel that such soul would never like to rest in peace. Rather, he would like to reborn and continue doing something with best of their ability to bring some change and make difference to the humanity. I would not pray for the Rest in Peace to such soul. I would rather pray, please come back, we need such soul here to save humanity and guide us to contribute something.

Death is inevitable truth that we all will accept one day. But, May I request you all not to feel sad on his death, rather let’s celebrate his death because one soul has taken another journey, but his last journey has inspired millions of life and has awakened billions of other soul to do something for humanity. I never met him but I strongly believe that, we remember him today, not because he was the greatest scientist but because he was the SIMPLEST human being. So let’s not say Rest In Peace Dr. Kalam, just for the sake of saying but LET’S DO SIMPLE THINGS FIRST; BRING SOME CHANG IN OUR LIVES FIRST; THEN IN SOCIETY AND COUNTRY WILL CHANGE. MAKE HIS DEATH A REASON FOR THE CHANGE THAN A REASON TO WEEP.

- MIHIR PATEL

DATE: JULY 28TH 2015, 4:37 PM