Date:20/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/20/stories/2006022020370300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Abdul Kalam suggests plan for `enlightened society'

Staff Reporter

The President says all countries should provide education with values

FOR SPIRITUAL GLAD TIDINGS: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam speaking to Sri Sri Ravishankar on the concluding day of the of the Art of Living Foundation's silver jubilee celebrations in Bangalore on Sunday. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

BANGALORE: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Sunday proposed a three-dimensional approach — education with values, religion transforming into spirituality and economic development for social transformation — for achieving an "enlightened society" that is beautiful, happy and safe.

Delivering the valedictory address at the international conference on human values organised on the occasion of the silver jubilee celebrations of the Art of Living Foundation here, Mr. Kalam said the mission of Art of Living to make the world one family is indeed great, but the execution requires a three-dimensional approach.

Thus, an action-oriented solution, Mr. Kalam said, is necessary to achieve an "enlightened society". A mechanism throughout the world in the form of a world spiritual body is needed to persuade all countries to provide education with values to children aged between five and 17, he said.

On transforming religion into spirituality, Mr. Kalam recalled the contribution of land from a church to build the Vikram Sarabhai Space Station in Kerala. The church obliged the late Sarabhai when the Government and politicians were unable to do it, as both — the church and the late Sarabhai — had one thing in common, a great smile, Mr. Kalam said.

While theology of religions differ, spirituality of all the religions is the same and there can be no difficulty in transforming religion into spirituality, he felt.

Mr. Kalam asked whether the Art of Living would like to evolve the three-dimensional approach resulting in spiritual glad tidings. He said the three approaches can be achieved through an "enlightened society", use of music as the binding force between people, making study of fine arts compulsory in secondary and higher education, people celebrating festivals of all religions, cross-religious education and education comprising the best of all religions.

Earlier, Mr. Kalam appreciated the mission of the Art of Living and the contribution of its founder Sri Sri Ravishankar.

He began the address saying: "I am being reminded of saint Thyagaraja's kriti `Endaro mahanubhavulu... andariki vandanamulu'."