Kalam.. The historic President.

Six years back, when Kalam was scientific advisor to defense ministry, he visited our college (TCE) to inaugurate a research facility. It was a best choice one can ever have to inaugrate the research facility. Staffs, students were thrilled to receive Mr. Kalam. Welcome banners were installed, auditorium was very well decorated, powerpoint show was prepared to showcase his subset of achievements, b-arch students started drawing the portrait of Kalam.

But the enthusiam was trimmed down a bit after security persons took over the college a day before the function. Every entry was questioned, thorough scanning done all over the possible Kalam visiting places. Sudden restriction put big question on people's mind over in-person meeting with Kalam. Guest house which is beside Men's hostel was kept ready to accomodate Kalam and team. Kalam reached the premises around 10 pm. Staff members and students thronged to the guest house to get the glimpse of Kalam. Securities started playing the expected spoil sport by blocking the students few hundred meters away. We knew Kalam was inside the guest house and started waiting for him, decided to go to the room after seeing his face.

But waiting was just 20 mins, he emerged from the guest house and directly walked towards the students standing few hundred meters away. Security people had no say after that. He started interacting with us and started asking questions like "what are you going to become?" "In software, what exactly you are planning to do", "What way you believe you can contribute to india?" "What are the papers you have submitted?", "What is your next level in your research?". He knew all the happenings of software, electronic industry. He knew the trend of research work each student spoke. He knew what is the next in those field. Above all he knew how to link those developements to the development of India. After speaking to the people, he directly entered the hostel premise and spoke to the students on the way. He started roaming the college campus and went to the auditorium. He was impressed with the decoration, called the students involved with the decoration, congratulated/thanked them for the decoration work. He then directly went to the place where his potrait was given final touch. He was amazed to see people giving final touch of his portrait, autographed on the the portrait and patted on the back of b-arch students. In the auditorium, he met the staff members and enquired about the facilities, research works expecially a DRDO work went during that time. Kalam leant, suggested, lectured on the research topics. Whereever he saw a student, he would started enquiring the student's ambition, his work apart from studies. He never bored of asking questions. He was eager to know the young minds and wanted to 'inginite the minds'. By the time he hit the sack it was around 3 0 clock.

Next day, I took a big fight with my friends to occupy the seat on the aisle to get close glimpse of Kalam. I will remeber forever the curious smile he gave while passing me. After inaugurating the research center, while delivering the speak he went very detail on Karumuthu Thiagarajar's (TCE founder) life, his dream, his charity, most of which we never heard before that. Even principle, out of his curious, asked him the soure of all these detail on founder. He told he read a book written by Karumuthu Thiagarajar which was available in the guest house library. What to say about this man? he finished a biography of the founder after 3 pm. The energy to learn new things, eagerness to know other's ambition, enthusiasm to guide others are never faded even in his post 70's. I had great respect for Kalam ever since I read wings of fire but I realised his larger than life persona only after seeing him.

You may wonder why is this stupid guy blogging about Kalam on a event which happened even before Kalam became President?

Today, I felt heavy hearted after seeing the political leaders sidelined Kalam by not considering his second term. More than sidelining his candidature, the worrying fact is sidelining his vision. These politicians dont want a speaking, dreaming, visionary President. I didn't see/hear any leader speaking for his Vision 2020. These people are making mockery on the spirit of a man who turned India self reliance on the fields he worked.

We all know President job is a rubber stamp job, only people who were not able to walk were selected as President to take rest in a big palace for their so called good service. I felt very bad when Kalam was appointed as President, for a job, only disabled, lazy people occupied. But he changed the face value of presidency. He wanted to use this platform to voice his vision, travelled length and breadth of the country to stimulate the young minds. Like his persona, he changed Rashtrapathi Bhavan(RB) a model place - he made Rashtrapathi bhavan a first public building to implement rain water harvesting, enabled solar energy in RB, cut the RB expenditure, developed a herbal garden, digitized RB library of 16K books, hosted veterinary hospital inside RB and not to forget the moghal (flower) garden. Now, I proud to have had the stature of Kalam in the seat of presidency. He has shown the world how effectively (even) the job of presidency can be used.

Kalam may not be the President of India after a month but he will be the Model President of India ever!!!