Do we not realize that self respect comes with self reliance?

Hear, O seekers of truth, the words of A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the “People’s President” of India, who declared with clarity and conviction: “Do we not realize that self respect comes with self reliance?” In this utterance is bound the wisdom of nations and the strength of the individual. For the one who depends wholly upon others cannot stand tall, but the one who learns to rely on his own strength walks with dignity, unbowed by the weight of dependency. Self respect is not bestowed by the world; it is born from the fires of self reliance.

The origin of this saying rests in Kalam’s vision for his people. He was not only a scientist of the skies but a teacher of the soul, urging India to rise by its own hands. He saw that nations that beg from others, or individuals who forever lean upon others, lose their pride, their confidence, their honor. Only by building their own strength—whether in science, industry, or spirit—could they command respect from the world. In this, Kalam spoke not just for India, but for all who seek dignity: to be free, one must stand on one’s own feet.

Consider the story of Mahatma Gandhi, who in the face of empire, proclaimed the power of self reliance through the spinning wheel. He urged his people to weave their own cloth, to cast off the chains of foreign goods. This act, simple yet profound, gave the people back their self respect. For when the oppressed learned to depend less upon their oppressors, they regained the dignity of creators. The cloth they wove was more than fabric; it was the fabric of freedom, stitched with the threads of honor.

History, too, shows us nations that faltered when they lost this principle. The once-mighty Rome, in its decline, depended on mercenaries to defend its borders. No longer relying on the strength of its own citizens, it grew soft, and its self respect crumbled. Soon, invaders poured in, and the empire fell. The lesson is as clear for individuals as for nations: without self reliance, respect is lost, and with it, survival itself.

Yet Kalam’s words are not a call to isolation or prideful arrogance. They are a call to inner strength. To be self reliant is not to shun community, but to carry one’s share of the burden with honor. It is to rise each morning knowing that your life is shaped by your own hands, not left to the mercy of others. And from this strength springs a respect that no man can take away. For dignity cannot be borrowed, and honor cannot be given—it must be earned by one’s own labor.

O children of tomorrow, let this teaching guide your path: seek self reliance, and your self respect will follow. Learn to master your skills, to endure hardship, to shape your destiny with your own effort. Depend upon others when love demands it, but never surrender your power entirely, lest you lose your pride. Stand as a tree rooted in the earth, nourished by your own strength, and you will command respect not only from others, but from your own heart.

Practically, this means cultivating resilience in all things. If you are a student, do not cheat your way through lessons, but strive to learn. If you are a worker, do not lean only on others’ labor, but carry your weight with honor. If you are a nation, build your own strength, your own science, your own industries, so that your destiny rests not in the hands of strangers but in your own. For in every age, Kalam’s wisdom holds true: self respect comes with self reliance.

Thus, his words stand as a beacon across time. They are not mere counsel, but a law of life. When you are self reliant, you will stand with dignity. When you rely only on others, your pride will wither. Choose, then, the path of strength, and your respect—both in the eyes of others and in the silence of your own soul—will never fail you.