‘Transcendence’ includes
Dr Kalam’s experiences with Pramukh Swami Maharaj,
BAPS services to society,
the correlation of science, spirituality and creative leadership.
On Sunday, 28 June 2015 a grand celebration event of Dr Kalam’s book ‘Transcendence’ was held at the Gujarat University Convention Centre, Ahmedabad, in the presence of over 10,000 dignitaries well-wishers and devotees. The event was graced by the Governor of Gujarat Shri O.P. Kohli, Governor of Karnataka Shri Vajubhai Vala, BJP President Shri Amit Shah, Cabinet Ministers government of Gujarat Shri Bhupendrasinhji Chudasama and Shri Saurabh Dalal and social, educational, industrial and professional luminaries of Gujarat.
The event began with the lighting of the inaugural lamp by Pujya Keshavjivan Swami (Pujya Mahant Swami) followed by a welcome speech by Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami.
Thereafter, the giant 15 feet by 60 feet LED screen transported the audience back in time through an animation presentation of the story of two boys – the journeys of how a boatman’s boy became a scientist and later the 11th President of India and how a farmer’s boy became the president of BAPS and a world-renowned spiritual leader.
Brahmavihari Swami gave glimpses of the mutual interactions between Dr Kalam and Pramukh Swami Maharaj in his speech. This was followed by a video clip of Dr Kalam presenting his book to Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Sarangpur on 20 June.
Prof. Arun Tiwari, the co-author of ‘Transcendence’, shared his experiences about writing the book. Then Shantanu Chaudhary, a representative of HarpinCollins, the publisher of ‘Transcendence’, narrated the responses to the book. He also announced that the English version would be translated shortly into at least six other languages: Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.
The celebration ceremony of the book took place with 100 children holding diyas (oil lamps) and singing Vedic mantras. The stage guests then inaugurated copies of the book and displayed them to the audience.
The main guests, BJP President Shri Amit Shah, and the Governors of Karnataka and Gujarat, paid glowing tributes to the book and recounted their association with Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
During the event, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was remembered for having received the book at the hands of Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami at his office in New Delhi on 26 June. The Prime Minister opined that he would read the book for it would help him and inspire him in his life.
Finally, Pujya Mahant Swami blessed the event, saying, “‘Transcendence’ is a book that shares higher values. The content is universal and transcends all human distinctions and barriers to make a person humane.”
The event concluded with the Indian National Anthem.