The World Vision - 2050

 Questioner: Sir, you eloquently described a vision, where all the space-faring countries of the world can collaborate to contribute to the SSP (Space Solar Project). But space has always been a competition, where it is the battle of the countries’ egos, to see who can do what first. So how much true potential does your vision hold for world contribution?

Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam: At the beginning of my speech, I never mentioned MY vision or the NATION’S vision. It was always about our vision, the GLOBAL vision. You are right, my dear friend, space is a battle of egos. But when countries realise the true power of collaboration and have a joint vision, their egos will definitely subside and be kept aside.

 What a man!

I personally recommend each and every one of you, to go and watch videos of Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam talking in public forums. At least the questionnaire part. His way of talking, and the knowledge he possesses, is sure to bring forth change in your mind on how you perceive things.

This story is dedicated to his world vision, by the year 2050. This is the utopian vision of Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam for the entirety of Humanity.

 

The year is 2050. Artificial Intelligence has gone a long way since the 2020s. Using this very AI, a holographic 3D model of Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam was created. About 5’5 in height, with hair whiter than snow shining in knowledge, and a smile resonating to his childhood days in Rameshwaram, Kalam slowly recollects a sense of his surroundings.

“Welcome, sir!”, I exclaim.
“Hello! May I ask, who are you? And where I am?”, asks Kalam, genuinely curious, and with no fear whatsoever.
“Sir, this is the future. The year is 2050. I know you might be confused, but please let me explain. The truth is that you passed away, long ago…”

Kalam, unfazed by what I just shared, lets out a hearty laugh. “My friend, our dead are never dead to us until we have forgotten them. And seems like I am remembered after all, eh?”

He points to his own statue, located right outside the laboratory window. Right across the window, I could see his child-like smile and deep eyes of wisdom, shining in bronze. It was true. Abdul Kalam was still alive among everyone, who still live his vision, or should I say, the World’s Vision.

 (AI-Generated Image, Credits: Canva)

“So, 2050, is it?”, he exclaims, as he gets a good look of his surroundings. We just stepped out of the laboratory, into the campus gardens, where Kalam’s statue was located in the middle. I was at a loss of words. I had envisioned so many fruitful discussions with the man, but now that he is omnipresent right in front of me, I had suddenly lost the ability to speak. So, I just followed him around.

“Well, at least I see trees. Earth is not a CO2 chamber yet thankfully.”, he murmured to himself, all with a smile on his face. He didn’t seem to mind the fact that he had overcome all human obstacles, to live and roam in the year 2050. He just wanted to absorb everything around him. I imagined the real Kalam, roaming the same way. It might have been this curiosity to learn that had made him so knowledgeable.

Everyone in the gardens were staring at him. Some are in shock, others in awe. But everyone felt the same, that they were in the presence of a great mind, a pure soul, but most importantly, a visionary. Kalam sat down at a park bench, and with his hand signalled me to sit next to him. Perhaps my mind was twitching, because it took me a moment to understand what he was signalling to me. I then sat down, and stared at him, expecting him to speak.

But he in fact, did not. I felt this sense of awkwardness, unable to comprehend the situation. But Kalam was just enjoying the breeze gliding around the trees. After what felt like an hour, he finally spoke up, but this time in a more serious tone, “How are the lunar bases coming up?”

“Sir, how do you know?”, I asked, in total awe of his question.  At this point I was certain it was the AI talking. He once again broke into a smile, like he usually does, and explained, “Oh my dear friend, it was obvious from the moment I saw my statue.” I was rather confused. Understanding my confusion, he continued, “Well firstly, if technology has come so far that I can come back to life, and there is a statue of me in the Institute of Lunar Research it makes the case clear already.”

“On top of that, the year is 2050. If the air is this fresh, either this whole world is a simulation, or the nations finally worked on the SSP. And well, if they together gave birth to the SSP, how far away are the lunar bases, am I right?” I gave in to his genius. I had never seen him in person, but at this point, I realised why he was regarded so highly.

It is true, what Kalam had aspired for the world, was unfolding. There was a lot more than just an International virtual laboratory, as there was a whole organization dedicated to establishing peaceful connections between space agencies and thus undertaking huge projects for the whole of humanity. Its official name is the World’s Outreach to Space Programme, or WASP for short, but it was known by the name of Kalam University.

Kalam’s dream of international cooperation in terms of energy was a resounding success. He had successfully established the foundation for SSP, the Space Solar Plant, which is the driving source of energy for all operations in the world. Energy was so abundant in fact, that even rockets have started using electric propellers instead of fuel while inside the atmosphere.

As suggested by Kalam, mining asteroids had proved to be a resourceful expenditure, leading to the discovery of 3 new elements in our universe. One of which might be what is needed for a breakthrough in the medical field, for discovering the cure of cancer.

Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam receiving the Wernher von Braun Memorial Award in San Diego from the NSS (National Space Society), where he delivered a speech about international cooperation. Link of speech- Abdul Kalam @ NSS

Unfortunately, the awkward silence ate up the majority of my time with the man. I was a mere contractor appointed by the WASP to bring back this legend of a person, using AI. The holographic display would stay alive for a few days before the system reaches its maximum capacity. 

But I knew for a fact, that even the mere sight of this man, could inspire the youth. A single speech could bring back the initial craze towards space that he created, and be transported to the youth of today’s generation. As Kalam says, the future of the world lies in the hands of the ignited youth.

 

Slides from Kalam’s presentation of NSS, show his vision for the future of the World.