The Hindu Business Line : The Kalam legacy

At the height of the acrimonious situation prevailing in the country preceding the race to Raisina Hill, a leading politician made the uncharitable remark: “President of India is not elected through SMS messages and a President’s duty is not to write poems.” Precisely for these reasons Mr A. P. J. Kalam showed how many millions of hearts in India he touched, which no politician, with the exception of a few who are no more, could do.

When he won the Presidential election, hands down, five years ago, people and media wondered what to expect from the new occupant of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The scribes wrote about his vegetarianism, his ability to play the veena, and, above all, his openness to all religious beliefs. Believe he did, but, in a Supreme Power, which decides man’s destiny and that Power could dwell in a temple, mosque, church, or a synagogue.

Much was written about his failed attempt to become a fighter pilot , and how he landed a job in the Defence laboratory, leading to his passion for space technology.

It was a tryst with destiny and, looking back, it is ironic how the late Pramod Mahajan carried the message from the BJP top brass the idea of the party wanting Mr Kalam to be the next President.

Dreams for India

Much will be debated and written about Mr Kalam, especially his contributions to the Presidency. He had so many dreams for India, such as interlinking the rivers and Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA).

This author had the privilege of being associated with Mr Kalam at a national seminar on the theme of water use, where the interlinking of rivers was discussed.

That his latest cyber “question-answer” exercise in which he put the troubling question to the world at large, “What should we do to free our planet from terrorism?,” elicited over 30,000 responses, more than half from children, is testimony to the fact that on whatever Mr Kalam spoke, wrote about, or did, India came first. That there were responses from countries as far as Brazil and Spain brings out his deep sense of conviction.

The best tribute

At the end of it all, one can but, ruminate with nostalgia, the “Kalam legacy”. He presided over India when tectonic changes were taking place and the country needed somebody like him to talk about its inherent values, inclusive spirit and, above all, innate spirituality.

The best tribute we can render this man, who walked out of Raisina Hill on Tuesday with just two suitcases, is to constantly remember that there, indeed, was a President in recent times who prodded us to do the right when we were tempted to do the wrong.

It is a testimony to the man’s impeccable magnanimity and incomparable refinement, when, contrary to the expectations in some quarters and apprehension in others, Mr Kalam never made any critical reference to the political class.

The closest he came to vocally expressing his disappointment was when he said during the farewell speech that India should be a nation “where the governance is responsive, transparent and corruption- free.” That about, sums it all.

(The author, a former National Science Foundation Professor, Royal Society, Belgium, can be contacted at nair_kpp@yahoo.com)