Kalam calls for evolving 'enlightened citizenry' round the globe

New Delhi, Apr 29 (UNI) President APJ Abdul Kalam has called for the evolution of an enlightened citizenry round the globe, with the introduction of moral value system in education and by making religion graduate into a universal spiritual force.

Dr Kalam, who was addressing a gathering of youth, children and social leaders at the Brahma Kumaris Academy at Mount Abu in Rajasthan yesterday, also made a strong pitch for the formation of a newer world body to work for removing wide and ever-growing economic disparities between ''the very rich and the very poor countries'' and for attaining economic parity and development for all.

The President, who held a dialogue with Rajyogini Dadi Prakash Mani, chief of the institution, urged the members to start a global movement for popularising and spreading the message of peace, amity, transparency, co-operation and universal brotherhood to make this world free from the scourge of terrorism, war, violence and rampant discontentment visible in all parts of the globe.

Appreciating the efficacy of value education, Rajyoga and spirituality, he said India had a message for the world that religion could be transformed into a mighty spiritual force through well-meaning institutions like the Brahma Kumaris, wich were engaged in a pursuit where the religious and scientific forces had joined hands to evolve into higher spiritual forces.

In this respect, he narrated the example of famous scientist Dr Vikrama Sarabhai, who had enlisted the support of a Christian priest, Peter Peirera, to acquire the land of the church in Kerala for establishing the Space Research Centre.

Elaborating the introduction of value component in educational system, the President said 250 million children in India should have access to elementary school education where at least one period of moral and value education in a week should form a part of the curriculum.

Replying to a query from a youth with regard to balancing extreme materialism on one hand and religious fundamentalism on the other, Dr Kalam said education in value system could strike a balance between the two extremes.

He also made an impassioned appeal to the youth and children of the country to motivate their parents to lead a righteous life.

Similarly, he exhorted the parents to motivate their children to desist from becoming TV and Internet addicts. ''This is important to save them from cultural pollution and cult of violence.'' Dadi Prakash Mani said the right balance between the powers of science and spirituality had the potential to transform the earth into heaven.

''Peace being the innate religion of the self, we ought to awaken and strengthen the force of peace by practising and promoting India's spiritual wisdom, universal values and Rajyoga meditation,'' she said.

She informed that the institution was celebrating this year as the ''Year of Peace and Good Wishes'' and thousands of its youth will take out 'All-India Swarnim Bharat Padyatra'', travelling over 25,000 km on foot all over the country to spread the message of peace, harmony, national unity and integration.

On the occasion, Dr Kalam released a book on ''Values in Health Care - A Spiritual Approach''. The book contains a training module on inculcation of core values among doctors and healthcare providers for a symbiotic doctor-patient relationship and holistic healing.

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