National
No president was ever loved so much like Kalam: Mukherjee
New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee has said no president was ever loved so much like A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was and the “people’s president’s” demise overwhelmed him with a sense of tremendous loss.
“No president was ever loved so much… Watching Kalam enjoy the company of children and students, it seemed as if he was (Jawaharlal) Nehru in another form,” Mukherjee told media persons.
The president said he was shocked when he heard the unexpected news of Kalam’s demise. “A sense of tremendous loss overwhelmed me,” he said.
“Kalam was always jovial but carried his years lightly. His mind was ever agile. He was humble but had a mighty mind. He was the people’s president during his tenure as president and will continue to remain so in the hearts of people after his demise,” Mukherjee said.
“I am deeply saddened by Kalam’s unexpected demise. He would have completed 84 years in October. There is only a four year difference between us. He was born in October 1931 and I was born in December 1935,” Mukherjee said.
“I, Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and a couple of others were present. The technical aspects of the tests at Pokhran II was explained by Kalam through an impressive presentation. (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee ji, ministers and other political leaders analysed it from the political angle,” the president said.
“I was defence minister in the UPA-I government when he was the president and supreme commander of the armed forces. He asked me to support the Brahmos missile project. His direct encouragement resulted in the Brahmos being used by all the three services,” Mukherjee said.
“Kalam’s contributions enhanced our defence capabilities,” Mukherjee added.
“Kalam used to often write poetry. Sometimes, while paying respects to departed soldiers at ‘Amar Jawan Jyoti’, he would compose a poem and quietly pass it on to me. I received two/three poems like this,” the president recalled.
Their friendship developed because they had a common passion-books, he said.
“He loved books and lived amongst them. Moreover, he was a prolific writer. This passion brought us together. When we met and the few times he came to see me, we would discuss books. What each one was reading or what he was writing….”
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.