War is never a lasting solution for any problem.

"War is never a lasting solution for any problem." These words, spoken by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the revered former President of India and scientist, carry within them the weight of history and the depth of wisdom borne from a lifetime of experience. Kalam, whose contributions to science and his country were immense, understood the destructive nature of war—its ability to tear apart societies, families, and futures—and its ultimate inability to provide a permanent solution to the deep and often complex issues that drive nations into conflict. His words are not merely a condemnation of war but a plea to recognize the futility of resolving human problems through violence and bloodshed.

In the ancient world, the great heroes of myth and legend often found themselves fighting not only against external enemies but also against the destructive forces of war itself. The Trojan War, immortalized in the Iliad, stands as a powerful example of this truth. For ten long years, the Greek and Trojan armies clashed in the name of pride and honor, and while cities were razed and countless lives were lost, the true problem—the cause of the war—was never truly resolved. The story ends not with a decisive victory, but with a tragic loss of life and a burning city. Homer’s epic serves as a timeless reminder that war may bring an end to battles, but it rarely brings an end to the issues that caused the conflict in the first place. When the dust settles, the underlying problems remain—hatred, pride, and revenge.

We need not look to the ancient world alone to understand the depth of Kalam’s wisdom. Consider the First World War, a conflict that tore through Europe, leaving millions dead and entire countries in ruins. The war was fought over nationalism, territory, and political alliances, and its end, marked by the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, was supposed to restore peace. Yet, the peace that followed was not lasting. The harsh conditions placed on Germany, combined with the humiliation and economic strain, paved the way for the rise of Nazism and the outbreak of the Second World War just two decades later. In this instance, the first war did not resolve the underlying issues—it simply buried them, only for them to erupt once more with even greater fury. War, as Kalam teaches us, is never a solution; it is a temporary ceasefire in a conflict that has not been truly addressed.

The Second World War, too, teaches us a similar lesson. While the Allied powers fought to defeat the forces of fascism and totalitarianism, the war itself caused unimaginable suffering and destruction. Whole cities were wiped off the map; entire populations were annihilated, and the scars of war lingered long after the weapons fell silent. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are perhaps the most glaring example of this. Though the bombings brought a quick end to the war in the Pacific, they did not resolve the deeper issues of global conflict, political ideologies, or the human cost of such power. The aftermath of the bombings created new tensions, new fears, and new divisions, which eventually gave birth to the Cold War—a different form of conflict that lasted for decades. Once again, we see that war, though it may bring a temporary end to violence, does not bring a lasting solution to the deeper problems of society.

Kalam’s words also reflect a truth that transcends the battlefield. The internal wars we fight within ourselves—the struggles between our passions, our desires, and our rational minds—cannot be solved through violence or aggression. In fact, such methods often deepen the very wounds we seek to heal. Consider the struggle for self-control. When a person battles with anger, hatred, or envy, responding to these feelings with more aggression only serves to feed the fire. True peace comes not from outward conflict but from inner resolution, from learning to temper our emotions and find balance. The peace that Kalam speaks of is one that must begin within, just as the wars that ravage the world often have their roots in the hearts of men.

This brings us to the ultimate lesson of Kalam's wisdom: peace is the true and lasting solution. War may momentarily silence the sounds of conflict, but it never resolves the underlying issues that caused the strife in the first place. It is only through understanding, forgiveness, and cooperation that we can hope to create lasting change. The solutions to our problems—whether they are national, international, or personal—lie not in the destruction of others, but in the building of bridges, the forging of alliances, and the fostering of empathy and dialogue. As Kalam teaches us, war is never the answer; it is the refusal to answer with violence that brings the true victory.

The practical action we must take in our own lives is clear: we must strive to build a world where dialogue replaces violence, where the forces of peace outweigh the forces of destruction. In our personal conflicts, we must seek understanding rather than retaliation, compassion rather than anger. In our relationships, we must build bridges, not walls, and in our dealings with others, we must remember that true strength lies not in conquering, but in coexisting. In this way, we follow the path laid down by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, understanding that while war may claim temporary victory, it is peace that is the lasting solution to the ills of the world. Let us honor this truth by committing ourselves to the cause of peace in all our actions.