Former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam joins Facebook

Former President APJ Abdul Kalam has joined Facebook with pseudonym kalamBillionbeats. He is the latest dignitary to join facebook after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mamata Bannerjee.

Kalam’s Facebook page is an extension of his e-paper initiative Billion Beats which he started immediately after he stepped down from the office of President of India in July 2007.

“In his Facebook page, Dr Kalam will share unique moments, his interaction with the unique people and achievers, share the success stories and celebrate the success of fellow Indians who contribute to the development of the nation,” V Ponraj, Advisor to Kalam and Editor of Billion Beats e-paper, said.

The former President would share his thoughts and about his meetings on www.facebook.com/kalambillionbeats everyday.

“He will start writing every day on the page and will also encourage the youth who have unique innovative ideas, discuss his visits to various R&D organisations and institutions towards realising the goal of developed India before 2020,” Ponraj said.

In his first post yesterday, Kalam wrote about his meeting with Madam Madeleine de Blic of Volontariat in Puducherry on 8 July.

I visited Puduchery to participate in the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Volontariat. This mission of Volontariat was started by Madam Madeleine de Blic who came from Belgium to India to pursue her mission of service to humanity in 1962. Over the last five decades, this mission have empowered large number of children with education, facilitated re-habilitation of women and senior citizens and promoted organic farming in the local fields. When I look at the service rendered by volontariat, I am reminded of the advice given by the mother of Mahatma Gandhiji to Gandhi ji when he was nine year old.

“Son, in your entire life time if you can save or better someone’s life, your birth as a human being and your life is a success. You have the blessing of the Almighty God”.

Madam Madeleine has saved thousands of lives in the last five decades and we are all grateful to her for this unique service. When I met her, I saw in her the service spirit of Mother Teresa and the compassion of Florence Nightingale. The people lovingly call her “Amma! Madaleine Amma!”, and these words of kindness radiate everywhere.