INTERNATIONALLY, the modern-day hero and statesman of Hindustan, now known as India, the Most Honourable Dr. Kalam Azad has passed to the Spirit World.

He is renowned as the father of India in Nuclear Physics and the Atom Bomb. He took the lead in Nuclear Physics, and received several of India’s highest awards. Though he led the Space Research of India in satellite exploration and guided missiles, and developed military tracking, satellite and nuclear guided weapons, my love for this man is based on the fact that he was a man of peace.
His personality and character exuded the aroma of peace, and he was a lover of his country and all his countrymen. He practised no discrimination with regard to race, culture or caste. The Late President Kalam, who served as President of India in two different Governments, established the honour he is held with in India, by all political institutions.
Because he was creator of nuclear power, and defence systems, many will think him as a man of war. But not so, he ensured that India will never have a policy of “strike first,” and all his inventions were for defence and development of his country and people.
I was extremely impressed when he said that Muslims must never forget that their ancestors were Hindus. That is an historical fact which many do not like to accept. As a leader and statesman he did, as do I. He was a dedicated Islamic practitioner as the Religion of Peace and Universal Brotherhood. But he loved and respected all, as myself again.
I recalled he was so moved with the late Founder of the Universal Peace Federation, The Hon Rev. Dr. Sung Myung Moon and his wife Hak Jahan Moon, for their sacrifices and work in international peace, that he suggested a book of peace be compiled on Father Moon as the most dynamic person in this age, working with peoples of all countries and societies for Universal Peace, and for the creating the Ambassador of Peace Network internationally.
The project was launched and the book, “The Peace King,” was the result. It was written by respected contributors and members of the Ambassador of Peace Network, from around the world. One section was also done by the Hon. Late President Kalam himself. For our hemisphere, the undersigned also penned a section on the Peace Work of the late Rev. Dr. Sung Myung Moon.
In addition to the sciences and peace for humanity, he was also a great orator and author, who penned several books, which are used in schools, and studied by peoples from around the world.
May the great son of India, and the world, rest well, and be granted his reward in the spiritual realm, that he so much deserves. He will be remembered by mankind for many centuries to come, and a time may come, when people may disbelieve that such a man lived. I do not say we lost a mighty one. But I prefer to say that: “He came as a soul that was to have enriched India, and the World.” Oh! And what great enrichment he contributed to India and the World.
He came as a gift to humanity, served mankind, and now is with God.
Deepest sympathies to his relatives, the Government and peoples of India, and the world.

ROSHAN KHAN
Snr International Ambassador of Peace
Universal Peace Federation