APJ ABDUL KALAM - A TRIBUTE

The "People’s President." Had the fortune to meet APJ Abdul Kalam as a journalist on several occasions – a superb human in my book.

Trust is something that does not come easy these days. It, however, was something our President was full of. As a President, he was entitled ZZ+ category security. He came one fine summer at the Raj Bhavan in Shillong, journalists like us were mesmerized with his simplicity and hairstyle!

After the occasional meeting, Kalam sat for a press conference - a rarity for Presidents. He answered questions. And thereafter, some usual suspects asked for a photo-op with the President. What audacity! The security went into hyper tizzy. Of course the entire journalist fraternity was accredited. This meant they were security-checked thoroughly.  

The security which involved the venerable President’s guards shooed every one saying nothing doing and moved the entire happy journalist out of the President’s way.

But, that is where Kalam came in. He asked the guards to move out and sat for a group photo with the journalists from Shillong and Guwahati. It was tensed photo opportunity, but journalists had the biggest smile! 

Kalam was also a President to give one-on-one interview with reporters. I was fortunate to have taken one with the President when he was in office.

One of the nicest quotes he said was when he eulogized "God as a great designer." He added that while Venus was a hot boiling mass and Mars was cold uninhabitable planet, “ earth was put in a suitable orbit … and blessed” so that life could sustain here.

That came from a man of science. Kalam to me was a man who gave equal leeway to science and faith.

In India faith runs deep. A large section of the people believe in faith, be it Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism you name it and people of a particular faith would stand up.

Kalam, though a scientist, did not disregard this populace and gave credence which is highly creditable. Moreover, Kalam a Muslim by birth could quote the Gita or the Bible or any religious text  – that’s secular.

All the students at IIM, Shillong would have gained a wealth of wisdom through the lectures of the president. He dedicated himself till he could no longer stand on his feet, but India stood tall because of this Great Man.

As someone who was born after Independence and not having the fortune to meet some of the greats, Kalam was someone we can be proud of post Independence, who epitomized India as a country of diverse race, religion,   ethnicity. We have seen Him, only question is: “can we live Him?”