Chapter 2.6 – Science and Spirituality
The lesson ‘Science and Spirituality gives us an insight into A. P. J. Abdul Kalam’s thoughts and actions. A renowned scientist, his contribution to the field of science is exemplary. He was very secular in his thoughts, was an incredibly down-to-earth person, and chose to live a simple life in spite of having all the privileges. He was one of the most respected leaders the world could ever have. It was his firm belief that the rich must live simply so that the poor can simply live. He attributes his humility to the teachings of his father and the way he was brought up. The lesson highlights his close interactions not only with the great scientist Dr. Vikram Sarabai but also with Reverend Father Pereira: His Holiness Dr. Sri Shiva Kumara Mahaswamiji and many other great religious personalities He felt blessed to have such great people in his life who added value to his very being. He was brought up on the island of Rameshwaram, where Hindus, Christians, and Muslims lived in harmony. It was his belief that, through difficulties and problems, God gives us the opportunity to grow. He had his share of failures and hardships before reaching the top, but his faith made him turn every failure into a teacher. A gifted visionary, his vision for 2020 projects India as a superpower, an economic giant, and a great nation of modern times. He firmly believed in an education with a value system that would bring about a peaceful world. The one line that never left his thoughts was what Mahaswamiji had told him during one of their discourses. The essence of a happy life and a peaceful society is in one sentence: What can I give? Dr. Kalam brought this idea into reality. In 2012, through the “What Can I Give Movement,Dr. Kalam tried to combat corruption, environmental degradation, and social evils.
A quote by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam that best describes him is “For great men, religion is a way of making friends; small people make religion a fighting tool.” He said that “religion should graduate into spirituality to bring peace to the world.”
perspective : view, particular attitude towards something
curbs : controls, keeps something within limit
fledgling : new and inexperienced
mic : microphone, mike
obscuring : making unclear
reverberated : echoed loudly
resonated : echoed, resounded
discourse : a formal talk including a debate.
queries : questions
tenet : a principle or belief
espoused : gave support to
ethos : characteristic spirit of a culture or era
tranquility : peace, calmness
munificence : generosity
circumspectly : cautiously
inequity : injustice
astounding : amazing, surprisingly impressive
Warming up!
1. Get into pairs/groups and match the columns :
Ans: (1) – (c); (2) – (d); (3) – (e); (4) – (a); (5) – (b)
2. Given below are some incomplete Quotes. Complete them choosing from the words SCIENCE / RELIGION / SPIRITUAL and make them meaningful :
_____ without religion is lame; without science is blind.
Ans: Science, Religion
_____ has outrun our _____ power, we have guided missiles, but misguided man.
Ans: Science, spiritual
On a _____ journey, we all have the same destination.
Ans: Spiritual
_____ is meant to awaken man’s love for his Source – God !
Ans: Religion
_____ provides a means of with the Creator of Heaven and Earth, in the language of your heart and soul.
Ans: Religion
_____ is a beautiful gift to humanity; we should not distort it.
Ans: Science
3. What’s the difference between science and technology? Discuss in pairs and tell your answer to the class.
Ans: The difference between science and technology is that the goal of science is the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake while the goal of technology is to create products that solve problems and improve human life. Technology is the practical application of science.
4. Do you think that science and faith are both important in our lives? Why? Discuss in your group and give a small presentation in front of the class.
Ans: Yes, I think that science and faith are both important in our lives. To believe in science you have to have faith because unless you have faith, science of anything cannot be proved.
5. We need science
Ans:
to understand latest technology
to help solve question
to accelerate progress
We need faith
Ans:
to enable our spirit to soar high
to provide perspective
to help us succeed
6. Refer to a dictionary to find out the meanings of the following words.
Spirit – a person’s mind or feelings or soul.
Spiritual
Ans: (adj) – relating to religion or religious belief.
Spirituality
Ans: (noun) – the quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.
Spiritualism
Ans: (noun) – the belief that living people can communicate with people who have died.
Spiritualist
Ans: (noun) – a person who believes that the spirits of the dead can communicate with living people.
In Between The LESSON
Q1. Why do science and faith have to go hand in hand?
Ans: Science and faith have to go hand in hand for the good of humanity.
Q2. What shaped Dr Kalam’s thoughts on religion?
Ans: Dr. Kalam’s interactions with the great scientist Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and the Reverend Father Peter Bernard Pereira shaped his thoughts on religion.
Q3. Why was the site in Thumba selected for building the space research centre?
Ans: A site in Thumba, Kerala was selected to set up the space research center because of its proximity to the magnetic equator.
Q4. What was the major obstacle in getting possession of the site?
Ans: A site in Thumba, Kerala was selected by Dr. Sarabhai and his team to set up their space research center due to its proximity to the magnetic equator. This site was the fishing grounds of Thumba’s fisherman. It also housed an old church, a bishop’s house and a school. Relocating so many people from the site and destroying religious institutions for the sake of a space research center seemed to be the major obstacle in getting possession of the site.
Q5. Who helped to solve the problem of acquiring the site?
Ans: Reverend Father Peter Bernard Pereira helped Dr. Kalam and Dr. Sarabhai in solving the problem of acquiring the site.
Q6. How did the people respond to the appeal made by Rev. Pereria? Would you have given the same response?
Ans: When Father Pereira spoke and there was a pin drop silence in the church for a long moment. Then everyone got up, and the whole church reverberated with the deafening noise of a collective ‘amen’ which meant ‘so be it’. If I was in the similar situation faced by the people in the passage, I would have been very scared and worried at the beginning, but then after understanding the importance of the situation, I would have given my approval for the same.
Q7. How can we lead a pure life?
Ans: We can lend a pure and ethical life by removing the impurities obscuring our souls and by serving humanity.
Q8. Whose philosophy actually had an impact on the writer?
Ans: APJ Abdul Kalam’s philosophy had a great impact on the writer because he realised that through his words of wisdom he was getting to learn from countless great minds.
Q9. What advice did Dr Kalam give the narrator after his graduation?
Ans: Srijan, the narrator, had met Dr. Kalam after he graduated from IIMA in 2009. At that time, Dr. Kalam advised him to use his degree and gold medal to transform the society he lived in.
Q10. What was Mahaswamiji’s tremendous contribution?
Ans: Mahaswamiji’s tremendous contribution was the establishment of a free residential education system for more than nine thousand children in the ashram.
Q11. What was unique about Mahaswamiji?
Ans: The most unique thing about Mahaswamiji was that while celebrating his 102nd birthday, an age which only 4 out of a lakh reach, he stood on his feet throughout the event without any support and looked as steady and alert as any youngster present for the birthday celebrations.
Q12. What was the secret of Mahaswamiji’s fitness even at the age of 102 years?
Ans: Mahaswamiji’s spirit of ‘What Can I Give’ wherein he feeds famished minds with beliefs and famished bodies with food, feeds his strength and keeps him strong. This was the secret of his fitness even at the age of 102.
Q13. Guess the meaning of : genetics
Ans: study of genes.
Q14. What makes society corrupt and unfair?
Ans: The attitude and thought, “What can I take from the environment and other humans?” make a society corrupt and unfair.
Q15. Which question inspires humanitarianism?
Ans: “What can I Give?” is the question which inspires humanitarianism.
ENGLISH WORKSHOP
1. (A) Read ‘Part I’ and match the words in Column ‘A’ with associating words given in Column ‘B’.
Ans:
(1) Science and faith – (b) Success of societies
(2) Science – (e) Solves questions, discovers truth conceives inventions
(3) Better Planet – (a) Created by fact and faith
(4) Creations and Discoveries – (c) Betterment of humanity
(5) Conflict – (d) Believers of science and religions
(B) Read ‘Part II’. Go through the given statements and say whether you agree or disagree to each of them.
(a) The Space Research set up facility was planned at Allapi, Kerala –
Ans: Disagree
(b) The person who could help and can be contacted was the Bishop –
Ans: Agree
(c) It was quite easy to relocate so many people and destroy religious institutions for space – research centre –
Ans: Disagree
(d) Dr. Kalam joined ISRO in 1970 –
Ans: Disagree
(e) Science and spirituality seeks prosperity of the human life –
Ans: Agree
(C) Go through ‘Part III’ and complete the following statements.
(a) The essence of a happy life and a peaceful society lies in one sentence ______
Ans: What can I give?
(b) To keep this planet liveable and the human race thriving, we have to ______
Ans: replace ‘what can I take with what can I Give?
(c) Mahaswamiji’s greatest contribution is the ______
Ans: establishment of a free residential education system for more that nine thousand children in the ashram.
(d) We can remove the impurities obscuring our souls by ______.
Ans: living pure and ethical lives serving humanity.
(e) The narrator, Srijan, realised that through Dr. Kalam’s words of wisdom ______.
Ans: he was getting to learn from countless great minds.
(f) Mahaswamiji possesses powers that kept him so strong were ______ or ______.
Ans: healthy lifestyle or genetics.
2. Choose the correct alternative for the given statements.
(A) Dr. Kalam’s father was an _____.
(a) teacher
(b) scientist
(c) farmer
(d) imam
Ans: (d) imam
(B) Dr. Kalam’s friends discussed on _____.
(a) science and technology
(b) discoveries and inventions.
(c) science and spirituality
(d) community’s problems and solutions
Ans: (c) science and spirituality
(C) According to Dr. Kalam, the need that is felt more than ever is _____.
(a) a laboratory to conduct experiments.
(b) a new technology to find results.
(c) a dialogue among cultures, religions and civilizations.
(d) a dialogue between people of different professions.
Ans: (c) a dialogue among cultures, religions and civilizations
(D) Dr. Kalam’s father was a symbol of _____.
(a) trust and faith.
(b) simplicity and divinity
(c) teacher and disciple.
(d) father and friend.
Ans: (b) simplicity and divinity
(E) Spirituality takes care of _____
(a) education, teaching and learning.
(b) science, technology and sci-fi.
(c) confusion, misery or failure.
(d) crime, illiteracy and child labour.
Ans: (c) confusion, misery or failure
(F) How can academic brilliance diminish?
(a) by disturbance and frustration.
(b) by going off track
(c) by a coating of dust.
(d) by losing focus and seriousness.
Ans: (d) by losing focus and seriousness
(G) What was most astonishing about 102 year old Swamiji?
(a) He was a great speaker and orator.
(b) He was a great scientist.
(c) He was a great admirer of technology.
(d) He looked as steady and alert as any other youngster.
Ans: (d) He looked as steady and alert as any other youngster
(H) What Dr. Kalam gathered while swimming in silence at the shores of Mahapragyaji?
(a) beautiful sea shores
(b) tree lined beaches
(c) sands of conscience
(d) beautiful sun-set.
Ans: (c) sands of conscience
3. Among the three parts, there are people who touched and influenced the life of Dr. A. P. J. Kalam in one or the other ways. Complete the web chart by writing the names of such people.
Ans:
4. Write the significance of the following years, as given in the text.
1960
Ans: Dr Kalam joined ISRO.
1970
Ans: Dr Kalam’s unsuccessful launch of the satellite.
1980
Ans: Dr. Kalam’s successful launch of the satellite.
2009
Ans: Dr. Kalam was invited for the 102nd birthday of his holiness Dr Sri Sri Shivakumara Mahaswamiji.
2012
Ans: What can I give movement’ become a reality.
5. Who said to whom and when?
(a) “Can we give up God’s abode for such a great scientific mission?”
Ans: Reverend father Pereira asked the people of Thumba at church after the prayer service.
(b) “And then God will shine through us.”
Ans: Dr. Abdul Kalam said these words to the narrator, Srijan when Srijan asked him how one could become so academically accomplished.
(c) “I wonder what power Mahaswamiji possesses, that keeps him so strong.”
Ans: The narrator, Srijan said the above lines to Dr. Abdul Kalam when they were discussing Mahaswamiji’s 102nd birthday.
6. Answer the following in your own words, and write in your notebook.
(a) What makes Dr Kalam a humble personality?
Ans: The values he imbibed from his father makes Dr. Kalam a humble personality.
(b) How were different virtues inculcated in Dr Kalam?
Ans: Different virtues were inculcated in Dr. Kalam from different people who enlightened him in his journey of life. He inculcated goodness of action from Pramukh Swamiji, living a pure and ethical life from Professor Brahma Prakash, selflessness in service from Father Pereira and Dr. Sarabhai, tranquility from Swami Sivananda, simplicity from his father and the spirit of ‘What can I Give’ from Dr Sri Sri Shivakumara Mahaswamiji.
(c) How did the Reverend relate and compare the work that he and Dr Sarabhai did for people?
Ans: Father Pereira introduced the scientist, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai to everyone present in the church. He then explained the relation between his work and the work done by scientists for the betterment of humanity. He explained how he was able to talk to them because of the m ic which was possible because of science and technology which enhanced the comfort and quality of life for entire mankind. The preacher prays for their well-being and peace. He further said that both science and spirituality seek the almighty’s blessings for the prosperity of the human mind, body and so both are the two sides of the same coin.
(d) What was so remarkable about Dr Sri Sri Shivakumar Mahaswamiji?
Ans: The most remarkable thing about Dr Sri Sri Shivakumar Mahaswamiji who dedicated his life to the science of humanity was that during his 102nd birthday celebrations he stood on his feet the whole time without any support and looked as steady and alert as any youngster present there.
(e) Why is there an urgent need to replace ‘What can I take’ with ‘What can I give?
Ans: To keep our planet liveable and the human race thriving, there is an urgent need to replace “What can I take?” with the goodness of ‘What can I Give?”
7. In your notebook, write a short paragraph on each of the following covering up their profession and personality traits with examples.
(a) Rev. Peter Bernard Pereira
Ans: He had leadership qualities which could inspire anybody. He was a selfless, dedicated person. He was a born leader. He was a priest in the St. Mary Magdalene Church, Thumba, Kerala. He understood the importance of science and that science and faith has to coexist with one another for the good of humanity. When approached by Dr Vikram Sarabhai to relocate the people and religious institutions from a site in Thumba wherein he preached, he was taken aback at first. Later on he convinced the people of Thumba to give up their abode and get relocated so that the research centre could be put up.
(b) Dr Sri Sri Shivakumar Mahaswamiji
Ans: He was from the Tumkur district of Karnataka. He was a remarkable person who dedicated his life to the service of humanity. At the ripe age of 102 he was able to stand throughout his birthday celebrations without any support. He was as fit and active as any other youngster present there. His greatest contribution is the establishement of a free residential education system which could accomodate more than nine thousand children in the ashram.
(c) Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Ans: He was secular in his thoughts, because of his upbringing. He was an incredibly down to earth person and chose to live a very simple life. He attributes his humanity to his father. He was a firm believer in the almighty. Although being a scientist he believed in the fact that there is a supernatural power which helps us in everything we do and for that, faith is very important and science and faith must co-exist for the good of humanity. He was extremely fascinated by the words of Mahaswamiji that the essence of a happy life and a peaceful society lies in one sentence- “What Can I Give?”Dr. Kalam brought this idea into reality in 2012 through the “What Can I Give Movement”.
8. Write in your own simple words what the following expressions convey in the context they occur in the text.
(a) Faith and fact can, together, create a better planet.
Ans: Inventions and discoveries and science are for the betterment of humanity. One must have positive faith in the facts of science which will go a long way in making a better world.
(b) Dr Kalam’s own life was nourished by multiple faiths.
Ans: Dr. Kalam grew up amidst people of different faiths, nourished himself with different cultures, religion, tradition and thought, moulding him into a wonderful person.
(c) But there was a major roadblock.
Ans: There was a major obstacle in getting the selected site.
(d) Only when the dust is removed, does the mirror shine and the reflection becomes clear.
Ans: The reflection on the mirror is cleared with the removal of dust. In the same way we live a pure and ethical life after removing the impurities that obscure our soul.
(e) Through his (Kalam’s) words of wisdom, I was getting to learn from countless great minds.
Ans: Dr Kalam’s interaction with great minds of different faiths could be seen and felt in his discourses.
(f) He gathered the sands of conscience to be our guide, our best friend.
Ans: Dr Kalam always did what his conscience told him to do because it is our conscience which tells us what to do and what not to, guiding us forever in our lives.
(g) ‘What can I take?’ is the thought which is responsible for all the wrong, seen around us.
Ans: The greed of humans to only take from the environment and people without giving a thought about its repercussions result in the wrong we see around us.
9. (A) From the lesson, pick out one word for each of the following.
(a) increase the speed
Ans: accelerate
(b) point of view
Ans: perspective
(c) nearness in space
Ans: proximity
(d) a place of residence
Ans: abode
(e) eager to know everything
Ans: inquistive
(f) echoed loudly
Ans: reverberated
(g) giving away much to the needy
Ans: munificence
(h) without making a difference
Ans: indiscriminately
(B) Arrange the following words in the alphabetical order.
inventions, indisputable, interactions, inequity, institutions, inquisitive, indiscriminately
Ans:
(i) indiscriminately
(ii) indisputable
(iii) inequity
(iv) inquisitive
(v) institutions
(vi) interactions
(vii) inventions
(C) Find from the lesson the noun forms of –
1. combine
Ans: combination
2. solve
Ans: solution
3. simple
Ans: simplicity
4. divine
Ans: divinity
5. advance
Ans: divinity
6. tranquil
Ans: tranquility
7. liveable
Ans: life
8. strong
Ans: strength
10. Match the word connectors with reference to part I, II, III respectively. Make sentences of each of these connectors.
Ans:
(1) – (k) : Some government officials came to our village to inspect the sanitary conditions.
(2) – (m) : Gandhiji’s efforts were for the betterment of humanity.
(3) – (i) : The hermit was revered for living a pure and ethical life.
(4) – (l) : We formed a core team to look into the community’s problems.
(5) – (n) : We need religious discipline in order to develop a clear conscience.
(6) – (h) : The most astonishing aspect of this great king’s personality is his humility.
(7) – (q) : The district required more skilled manpower for technological advancement.
(8) – (e) : The teacher had a frank dialogue with the youth about his drug problem.
(9) – (p) : He left his good secure job in order to dedicate himself to social service.
(10) – (b) : In order to make progress, people should avoid conservative faith curbs.
(11) – (t) : To be a good detective, one must basically be an inquisitive person.
(12) – (r) : All through his school and college days he displayed academic brilliance.
(13) – (c) : Plastics are major contributors to environmental degradation.
(14) – (f) : There was pin-drop silence when the sad news was announced.
(15) – (s) : The owner was provided alternate accommodation until his flat was renovated.
(16) – (a) : Lal Bahadur Shastri was a remarkable person.
(17) – (g) : Our inner beliefs should be the silent motivation to do good to others.
(18) – (o) : The communal kitchen is a great boon to famished bodies.
(19) – (d) : At the first attempt it was an unsuccessful launch.
(20) – (j) : ISRO is a space research centre in Bengaluru.
11. Simple sentence : subject + verb + object / complement / adverbial: Analysing a simple sentence is done by separating the subject and the predicate. The predicate is further analysed into –
(1) verb + object as in
‘A doctor treats patients’.
‘He greeted the teacher.’
(2) verb + complement as in
‘They are very tired.’
‘I have a cold.’
(3) verb + adverbial as in
He walks slowly.
Raj arrived late.
The thief is hiding there.
Say whether the predicates in the following sentences have an object / a complement / an adverbial.
(1) There was silence.
Ans: complement
(2) Alexander Bell invented the telephone.
Ans: object
(3) They have a holiday.
Ans: object
(4) The dancer danced gracefully.
Ans: Adverbial
(5) The milkman comes daily.
Ans: Adverbial
(6) The hostess served tea.
Ans: object
(7) The kite soared upwards.
Ans: Adverbial
12. (A) Punctuate the following sentences to make them meaningful.
(1) dinesh took a bus that stopped at nanded railway station after crossing somvar peth
Ans: Dinesh took a bus that stopped at Nanded railway station, after crossing Somvar Peth.
(2) dr a p j abdul kalam was the past president of india by the way he was a great scientist orator and a humanitarian
Ans: Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was the past president of India. By the way, he was a great scientist, orator and a humanitarian.
(3) nouns are of different types common proper abstract concrete material
Ans: Nouns are of different types: Common, Proper, Abstract, Concrete, Material.
(4) what a lot of noise you all make said the teacher cant you keep quiet for a while
Ans: “What a lot of noise you all make!”, said the teacher. “Can’t you keep quiet for a while?”.
(5) wow how lovely that cake looks they said we cant wait to eat it
Ans: “Wow! How lovely that cake looks!” they said. “We can’t wait to eat it!”.
(B) Copy the first paragraph on page 92 in your notebook, carefully. Encircle all the punctuation marks with a coloured pencil / pen.
“Dear children …………………. ‘amen’.
Ans: ‘Dear children, Dr. Vikram says that, within a year, he wants to build scientific facilities near the sea coast, replacing all the settlements that now stand there. Now, can you give up your abode? Can I give up my abode? Can we give up God’s abode for such a great scientific mission?” Dr. Kalam recalled how he witnessed ‘a pin-drop silence for a long moment’. Then everyone got up, and the whole church reverberated with the deafening noise of a collective ‘amen’.
13. Project :
Read Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s very renowned books ‘Wings of Fire’; and ‘Ignited Minds’, to find the following :
(a) Subject of the book
(b) Special features of the book
(c) Teachings / learnings / moral / message from the book
(d) Your own opinion/idea/comment on the book
Ans:
(i) Ignited minds by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
(a) Subject of the book: Motivating Indians especially the Indian youth to dream big and to believe that what they dream can be true.
(b) Special features of the book: It is a short book of 205 pages with 9 chapters. He writes why we are not developing as we should have and how we will become a developed country. He inspires the Indians to change the thinking and attitude of the country forging India to become a developed country.
(c) Teachings / learnings / moral / message from the book: The book consists of many inspirational messages from great people. This book is meant for Indian children, to ignite their thinking to think big for our country. Well inspired inspirational stories are provided in each of the chapters to encourage and build a spirit of oneness. It contains dynamic and original ideas, examines attitudes afflicting the Indians and presents prescription for the rapid growth of India to enable the country to emerge as a developed country.
(d) Our opinion / comment on the book: The book is written in simple language, very easy to understand and inspires everyone who reads it. The books is capable of igniting fire in the mind of anyone who reads and understands it.
(ii) Wings of Fire by APJ Abdul Kalam
(a) Subject of the book: Wings of Fire is an autobiography of APJ Abdul Kalam former President of India. It was published in 1999 and it covers Kalam’s life before he became the President of India.
(b) Special features: The book covers his early life and his work in Indian space Research and missile programmes. It is the story of a boy from a humble background who went on to become a great scientist and later the President of India. The Book contains quotes which are very motivational. It also provides a glimpse of Indian harmony which existed before India’s partition. The book also contains many of his poems.
(c) Teachings / learnings / moral / message: One can find a glimpse of Kalam’s positive thinking throughout the book. He held many high ranking positions in various organizations, yet he has rarely mentioned anything about corruption or ignorance of bureaucracy or politicians. The secret to his success seems to be his ability to ignore negative things around him. APJ Abdul Kalam is simple, secular and inspiring.
(d) Our opinion/ comment: Wings of fire is an autobiography of Dr. Kalam in simple language. His wordings helped and induced many youngsters that a fire exists in each and every one of us and it has to be utilized in the right way. How the young blood should react? What are our duties as a citizen? has been depicted very beautifully in simple but elegant words that has attracted many readers including me.
(B) Divide your class in two groups and have a Debate on the topic ‘Science and Spirituality can go hand in hand’.
Ans: The debate on whether science and spirituality can go hand in hand is a complex one. Proponents argue that they can coexist harmoniously, as they both seek to understand different aspects of reality. Science focuses on empirical evidence and the physical world, while spirituality delves into the metaphysical, seeking meaning and purpose.
Those in favour of their compatibility point out that many scientists are also spiritual or religious individuals. They argue that science answers ‘how’ questions, while spirituality tackles ‘why’ questions, making them complementary rather than contradictory.
On the contrary, critics argue that science relies on evidence and the scientific method, while spirituality often depends on faith and subjective experiences. They contend that spirituality can sometimes hinder scientific progress by promoting untestable beliefs.
In conclusion, whether science and spirituality can coexist depends on one’s perspective. While they approach different aspects of life, they don’t necessarily have to be in conflict. With open-mindedness and respect for each other’s beliefs, they can potentially work together to provide a more comprehensive understanding of our world.