Talk:Abdul Kalam
From Academic Kids
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam claims that he is NOT a Muslim. His parents were Muslim, but he claims to read Hindu literature, to practice vegetarianism, and does not attend a mosque. Can anybody provide any more detail? -- Zoe
- All I know is that every radio report and news article I've come across so far in the Western media mentioning him claims that he is A) a "moderate" Muslim and B) also well-versed in the Hindu sacred literature. (And therefore more acceptable to Hindus, and offensive to some Muslims who see him as a sign that a real Muslim would not be acceptable to the Indian public.) An NPR report I remember listening to a week or two ago claimed he "quotes the Mahabharata almost as often as he does the Koran". I'd definitely want more documentation before changing that characterization in the article... --Brion VIBBER
- From the 07/19/2002 Los Angeles Times: "Although born to Muslim parents, Kalam, 71, does not describe himself as Muslim. He reads Hindu scriptures each day and is a vegetarian." -- Zoe
When he was inauguarated as President there was a lot of writing in the Indian papers about whether he was a real Muslim. Some of the more orthodox Indian Muslims felt that because he read the Kural and Gita he wasn't really a Muslim. Kalam himself identifies himself as a Muslim (and has done that on numerous occasions), I even remember an article about him visiting the shrine of Gharib Nawaz, a famous Indian Sufi, and that I think should be enough evidence to suggest that he is a Muslim. I'm Hindu but I've read the Bible and liked it, that doesn't make me a non-Hindu. It isn't for some cleric to decide who is or isn't a Muslim because Islam does not have that kind of organization (as opposed to say Catholicism or any other organised church where the Pope etc can excommunicate you). As long as he says he's a Muslim (which he explicitly does) that should be enough
Cancel request to see Talk. — Toby 15:25 Jul 23, 2002 (PDT)
I called Islam his "family's" faith again, due to the LA Times quotation above by Zoe. But if Muslim scholars consider him Muslim (even if he does not call himself that), then I will put that in the article as well. -- Toby Bartels 23:56, 11 Jan 2004 (UTC)
Increasing intelligence through bio-implants
I've searched online but haven't been able to find any news site or other website that refers to Abdul Kalam's support for research to increase intelligence through bio-implants, mentioned on this page. It would be useful to have a reference for this on the page, as it sounds pretty radical. --RajeevA.
