Editing A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (section)

=== Syncretism ===
One component of Kalam's widespread popularity among diverse groups in India, and an enduring aspect of his legacy, is the [[syncretism]] he embodied in appreciating various elements of the many spiritual and cultural traditions of India.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5">{{cite web|title = Remembering Kalam: Greatly beloved, but he maybe missed being truly great – Firstpost|date = 28 July 2015|url = http://www.firstpost.com/politics/remembering-apj-abdul-kalam-greatly-beloved-but-he-maybe-missed-being-truly-great-2367544.html|access-date = 4 August 2015|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150731000537/http://www.firstpost.com/politics/remembering-apj-abdul-kalam-greatly-beloved-but-he-maybe-missed-being-truly-great-2367544.html|archive-date = 31 July 2015}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{cite web|title = Kalam served India till last breath: Advani|url = http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/kalam-served-india-till-last-breath-advani_1637359.html|access-date = 4 August 2015|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151014074425/http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/kalam-served-india-till-last-breath-advani_1637359.html|archive-date = 14 October 2015|date = 28 July 2015}}</ref> In addition to his faith in the [[Quran]] and Islamic practice, Kalam was well-versed in Hindu traditions; he learnt [[Sanskrit]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Abdul-Kalam-or-Abul-Kalam-the-message-is-same/articleshow/48408920.cms|title=Abdul Kalam or Abul Kalam- the message is same|website=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=8 August 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160824191957/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Abdul-Kalam-or-Abul-Kalam-the-message-is-same/articleshow/48408920.cms|archive-date=24 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/feb/01kalam1.htm|title=Kalam on why Sanskrit is important|access-date=8 August 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070910015917/http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/feb/01kalam1.htm|archive-date=10 September 2007}}</ref> read the [[Bhagavad Gita]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jul/11spec.htm|title=rediff.com Special: Muslims react to A P J Abdul Kalam's candidature for President|website=www.rediff.com|access-date=1 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830051202/http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jul/11spec.htm|archive-date=30 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Three books that influenced APJ Abdul Kalam deeply – Firstpost|date = 28 July 2015|url = http://www.firstpost.com/living/three-books-that-influenced-apj-abdul-kalam-deeply-2367912.html|access-date = 4 August 2015|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150730195411/http://www.firstpost.com/living/three-books-that-influenced-apj-abdul-kalam-deeply-2367912.html|archive-date = 30 July 2015}}</ref> and he was a vegetarian.<ref>{{cite web|title = Of Rasam and Rice: The Humble Lifestyle of Former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam – NDTV Food|url = http://food.ndtv.com/opinions/of-rasam-and-rice-the-humble-lifestyle-of-former-president-dr-apj-abdul-kalam-1201369|access-date = 4 August 2015|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150730231654/http://food.ndtv.com/opinions/of-rasam-and-rice-the-humble-lifestyle-of-former-president-dr-apj-abdul-kalam-1201369|archive-date = 30 July 2015}}</ref> Kalam also enjoyed writing [[Tamil language|Tamil]] poetry, playing the [[veena]] (an Indian string instrument),<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2040386,00.html |title=India's A.P.J. Abdul Kalam |date=30 November 1998 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=1 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228182257/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2040386,00.html |archive-date=28 February 2012 }}</ref> and listening to [[Carnatic music|Carnatic devotional music]] every day.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-33685041|title=Abdul Kalam: People's president, extraordinary Indian|newspaper=BBC|date=28 June 2015|access-date=28 June 2015|author=Shashi Tharoor|author-link=Shashi Tharoor|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730230459/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-33685041|archive-date=30 July 2015}}</ref> In 2002, in one of his early speeches to Parliament after becoming president, he reiterated his desire for a more united India, stating that "during the last one year I met a number of spiritual leaders of all religions ... and I would like to endeavour to work for bringing about unity of minds among the divergent traditions of our country".<ref name=":5" /> Describing Kalam as a unifier of diverse traditions, [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] leader [[Shashi Tharoor]] stated, "Kalam was a complete Indian, an embodiment of the eclecticism of India's heritage of diversity".<ref name=":1" /> [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] leader [[L. K. Advani]] concurred that Kalam was "the best exemplar of the Idea of India, one who embodied the best of all the cultural and spiritual traditions that signify India's unity in immense diversity. This was most strikingly evident in the second-to-last book he published, presciently titled ''[[Transcendence: My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji|Transcendence: My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swami]]''".<ref name=":6" />