Saturday, February 19 2005 12:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Principal scientific advisor to the Government of India Dr R Chidambaram yesterday (Feb 18, 2005) said that because of its cultural background.

"Nuclear weapons are needed to keep the country safe and the principle of deterrence was "strength respects strength" and only if India is strong its voice will be heard," Chidambaram, who was speaking after the release of a book 'The Luminous Sparks' authored by President of India Dr A P J Abdul Kalam said in Mumbai yesterday (Feb 18, 2005). At the end of all India should preserve its spiritual and cultural heritage, he said.

Speaking about the book written by Kalam, which is a book of poems and biographical notes, Chidambaram said that the book reveals another facet of the personality of Kalam.

He said that he knew other scientist who had hobbies but poems was a bit unusual and added after going through the initial poems he found there was a lot of simplicity and compassion in them.

"That he (Kalam) wants his country to be developed is very well reflected in his poems," he said.

Earlier, noted actor Rajat Kapoor and acting guru Kishore Namit Kapoor recited a few poems from the book.