Saluting the Wind of Change…

The mobile revolution is playing a role in voicing opinion about electing the next President to the nation of over a billion people. Chained SMSs by numberless mobile users, blogs by net-savvy peoples of all ages, letters to editor of various dailies by citizens all across the nation and numerous internet-polls have already given a consensus in favour of APJ Abdul Kalam.

Hittu Saluja

The mobile revolution played a vital role in voicing opinion about electing the next President to the nation of over a billion people. Chained SMSs by numberless mobile users, blogs by net-savvy peoples of all ages, letters to editor of various dailies by citizens all across the nation and numerous internet-polls have already given a consensus in favour of APJ Abdul Kalam. A celebrated President While President Kalam has pulled out of the presidential race in a dignified manner, nobody can deny the fact that Kalam is the President with a difference. His thoughts can ignite the minds of the youth, his actions can leave an immaculate impression on bureaucrats, his simplicity can impress masses, his vision can guide the entire nation and his silver locks will continue to fascinate us. Perhaps for the political class, his qualities have actually counted against him. He could neither become UPA’s eye candy nor be supported of NDA. In fact, he is the first non-political President. He is a bright scientist, a dynamic leader, an intellectual visionary, an ideal citizen or a President with a record of five successful years of excellent performance. His popularity among ordinary Indians has won him the title of People’s President. There are two different aspects of his tenure, first as an official head of the state guarding the constitution and second his association within masses. Credit goes to him for playing outstandingly his first role not by open defiance or running a parallel centre of power but by his charismatic approach of not getting carried away by the very thought of power. Active not Activist He brilliantly handled the issue of Office of Profit which he himself regarded as the most difficult decision in his entire tenure. In an interview he said, “The difficult decision is, of course, one Bill -- the office of profit -- that Bill I had to return to Parliament. As per the Constitution, a President can do it but I happened to be the first fellow”. He initially returned the bill (Prevention of Disqualification) Amendment Bill of 2006 when it was sent to him in May 2006 after being passed by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Both Houses again passed the bill and returned it to the President but only after setting up a joint parliamentary committee. The entire nation was simmering on the issue of reservations. Referring to the 27 percent quota for OBCs in elite educational institutions, Kalam said this could be tackled by increasing seats in medical and management colleges. He maintained, “ So..the best thing... to neutralise the reservation is to increase the number of seats in medical...and in management (institutions)”. Introduction of bio-fuel in the country is considered to be the second most difficult moment. It is the result of his incessant efforts to promote a cleaner environment that now the government has agreed for 10 per cent mixing of bio-fuel in petrol and diesel. Amidst a raging controversy over the acquisition of farm land for industry, President A P J Abdul Kalam said no force should be used to take land from cultivators. Perhaps, all this shows that unlike political leaders he has always spoken for the benefit of masses. A Miracle-Man His second role as a miracle man has left people spell-bound with his magnetic personality. In his own words, “Rashtrapati Bhavan has become a people`s Bhavan today. I believe it should be an example for the nation”. He tried to give a personal touch to Rashtrapati Bhavan by contributing a museum to the premises and opening the famous Mughal Garden for the people and setting upa herbal garden. India’s most celebrated President is a man of many kind gestures. Like organising a farewell party for his staff, a special interaction with the media or arranging treatment for an injured fawn. Recently, he gifted two Army horses to the Central Institute of Mental Retardation (CIMR) in Thiruvananthapuram so that their mental faculty could be improved by playing with them. Kalam also donated his honours and awards, including the Bharat Ratna, and some of his personal belongings, to a museum built by his friend and Managing Director of BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, A Sivathanu Pillai. Kalam is only President who vowed to visit each state of the country before going on a foreign tour. He especially visited various schools and universities and interacted with children. An aide reveals that during his tenure, the President has met more than 1.5 million children. A Versatile Personality He has undoubtedly proved that the rhetoric of a President being a ceremonial head is not applicable to define his dynamic demeanour. Even before taking over the office of the President, he was known for his strong personal discipline, is a strict vegetarian, teetotaller and a bachelor with a reputation for working round the clock. He is also a gifted musician and a man who is devout and secular. Political forecasters were partially wrong and partially right when they said that Dr Kalam may be a popular figure but he is headstrong and too independent in his thinking and could prove to be a difficult customer for the ruling coalition. This owes to the fact that he did not act like a sinecure of the ruling party, but at the same time maintained the integrity and the elegance of the office of the President. Only recently, he openly slammed the political class by uttering, “Our society is going through unique dynamics due to the shortage of leadership with nobility.” Unlike a career politician, Kalam neither intended, nor ever tried to sound politically-correct. India’s Missile-Man He has always emphasized on sharing with intellectuals and youngsters his vision paving the way for India to become a technological super power of the World. He indeed is the ‘missile man of India’. Specialized in Aeronautical Engineering from Madras Institute of Technology, Dr. Kalam made significant contribution as a Project Director to develop India`s first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III). He was responsible for the evolution of ISRO`s launch vehicle programme, particularly the PSLV configuration. It was under the dynamic leadership of Kalam that his team could develop and operationalise AGNI and PRITHVI Missiles. From July 1992 to December 1999 he served as the Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister and Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development. During this period he led to the weaponisation of strategic missile systems and the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in collaboration with Department of Atomic Energy. He also gave thrust to self-reliance in defence systems by progressing multiple development tasks and mission projects such as Light Combat Aircraft. A Visionary As the Chairman of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) and as an eminent scientist, he led the country with the help of 500 experts to arrive at Technology Vision 2020, giving a road map for transforming India from the present developing status to a developed nation. After presenting his vision for 2020, he recommended a roadmap for industries on Moon and habitations on Mars by 2050. As a testimony to President Kalam’s efforts, the Royal Society, UK’s national academy of science has awarded him the King Charles II Medal in recognition of his “extraordinary” contribution to promotion of science in India. For him life is setting goals and working hard to achieve it. In one of his poems he writes, “Dreams float on an impatient wind, A wind that wants to create a new order. An order of strength and thundering of fire." Indeed Dr Kalam, for you have been the dream-seller for the young India and a reality-checker for horses of politics! (Hundreds of thousands of fans and well wishers of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam can continue to stay in touch with him through his personal Web site at www.abdulkalam.com. Currently the website is under reconstruction, and new features have been lined-up for introduction. The day Kalam officially demits the office of the President, the Web site will be up and alive once again.)