Legend of APJ Abdul Kalam
He went from distributing newspapers after school during childhood to become the President of our country. He was awarded Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna – the highest civilian honour. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam made every day of his life count for all it’s worth, till very last breath he took yesterday.
Former President of India and reputed scientist Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam passed away on Monday evening at a hospital in Meghalaya. Reports say he collapsed while delivering a lecture at Indian Institute of Management in Shillong and was admitted in the hospital in a very critical condition.
The 11th president of our country was 83 when he passed away. The doctors reportedly said that he suffered from a cardiac arrest.
The Logical Indian Community pays tribute to Late Dr. Kalam with a heavy heart. Though he was known by many tags –‘People’s president’, ‘Missile Man’, ‘The man behind Vision 2020’; He will not only be remembered for the immeasurably remarkable achievements and marks he left behind, but surely as a Great Human, for his determined character, for his love, for his patriotism, for he could ignite our minds.
We recapitulate some of the well known bits and parts of his life below as the nation recovers from the sudden demise of Late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam:
• Dr. Kalam was born in Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu on October 15, 1931, to a humble boat owner. A determined soul since childhood, he started working at an early age to contribute to the family income. He was brought up in a multi-religious, tolerant society; one with a progressive outlook. He overcame all odds and carried on to pursue graduation in physics and later study aerospace engineering on a scholarship.
(Dr Kalam’s Home in Rameshwaram || Image: colorlibrary)
• His first mark for our country was his accomplishments as a Scientist. Late Dr. Kalam joined Aeronautical Development Establishment of Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in 1960.
(Dr Kalam with Friends || Image: pinterest)
• Nine years later he was transferred to Indian Space Research Organization. Late Dr. Kalam claimed that joining ISRO was one of his biggest achievements in life.
( Young Dr Abdul Kalam With Vikram Sarabhai || Image: isro)
He said he found himself when he started to work on the Satellite Launching Vehicle (SLV) project. Dr. Kalam made significant contribution as Project Director to develop India’s first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) which successfully injected the Rohini satellite in the near earth orbit in July 1980 and made India an exclusive member of Space Club. Dr. Kalam took up responsibilities for developing Indigenous Guided Missiles at the DRDO which led to the development of AGNI and PRITHVI missiles.
(SLV – III Review meeting, with presence of Sathish Dhawan || Image: www.jagran.com)
He also led the Pokhran-II nuclear tests that made India a nuclear weapon country. His remarkable contributions to the space and defense programs of our country would be one of the reasons for the country’s success.
(Then PM AB Vajpayee and Dr. Kalam at Pokhran Nuclear test Site
• In 2002, both the ruling party, Bhartiya Janta Party, and the Opposition Party, Congress came together to elect him as the 11th President of India. After serving a term of 5 years, he returned to civilian life of education, writing and public service. He has written a number of books and documentaries, the best known being Wings of Fire and Ignited Mind. A recipient of a number of awards, he topped them all by Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor in 1997.
(Image : hdwallpaperswala.com)
He saw a dream for our country known as Vision 2020. He wanted to see our nation standing amongst the developed countries of the world. The only real tribute to him would be when we manage to achieve that goal as a united country. “A dream is not that which you see while sleeping, it is something that does not let you sleep,” as he famously said.
The Centre has declared a national mourning of seven days.
“Dr. Kalam was a man of impeccable character, indomitable spirit, profound knowledge and firm conviction. His death is an irreparable loss to this nation. He has left a big void hard to fill,” said home minister Rajnath Singh.
The Logical Indian Community bids farewell to one of the greatest presidents our country has witnessed. May your soul Rest in Peace, Dr. Kalam. Besides all you have given to our country, you were a Guide, a Teacher and an inspiration to many. You will always remain immortal in our hearts and memories for generations to come.
– Written by Shaina Ahluwalia
http://thelogicalindian.com/story-feed/get-inspired/journey-of-former-president-dr-apj-abdul-kalam-a-tribute-from-the-logical-indian/
Dr Avinash Chander, former DRDO chief, recalls his association with former president APJ Abdul Kalam.
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was a great scientist, an inspiring leader and, above all, an extraordinary human being. He touched the lives of everyone who worked with him. I recall the time we were preparing to test the Agni technology demonstrator in 1989. There were lots of nervous moments and we weren't sure how the test would go. We had returned from the launch pad twice in the past and this was a crucial test.
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was a great scientist, an inspiring leader and, above all, an extraordinary human being. He touched the lives of everyone who worked with him. I recall the time we were preparing to test the Agni technology demonstrator in 1989. There were lots of nervous moments and we weren't sure how the test would go. We had returned from the launch pad twice in the past and this was a crucial test.
Kalam used to carry his resignation letter with him those days. He had decided if anything went wrong, he would accept the responsibility and step down. There are not many leaders like that. He stayed awake all night at the launch pad, making sure everything was in order.
India's strategic missile programme is where it is today because of Kalam's genius.
He would give everyone an opportunity to contribute to a project irrespective of where they were in the pecking order.
The days ahead of the 1998 nuclear tests were stressful but Kalam never lost his cool. He scripted that glorious chapter in India's history.
The human side of Kalam's personality was as legendary as his scientific acumen. One of the scientists working with us was suffering from a life-threatening liver disorder. Kalam went out of his way to get clearances for the scientist to be treated abroad. He cared for people and his team.
Even as President, he followed the developments in the military world closely. He visited Wheeler Island days before a crucial Agni-III launch to encourage all of us in 2006. His presence was immensely encouraging. But as luck would have it, the test failed.
We were quite crestfallen and were busy trying to figure out what went wrong. At this stage, I got a message that the President was looking for me. I went to meet him and he patted me on my back and said: "Things will be fine, Avinash. Tell me if you want anyone to help you with the analysis of what went wrong. Anyone, anywhere in the world. We will get him here." That was unforgettable.
(As told to Rahul Singh)
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/apj-abdul-kalam-a-great-scientist-an-extraordinary-human-being/article1-1373734.aspx
'Missile Man': Ex-president APJ Abdul Kalam passes away
- Rahul Karmakar and Rezaul H Laskar, Hindustan Times, Guwahati/ New Delhi |
- Updated: Jul 28, 2015 08:31 IST
Former president and Bharat Ratna APJ Abdul Kalam died on Monday after collapsing during a lecture in Shillong. (Sanjeev Verma/HT File Photo)
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Former President APJ Abdul Kalam passed away in Shillong on Monday evening. He was 83.
Kalam, who reached Shillong via Guwahati in the morning, collapsed during a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management-Shillong (IIM-S) at around 6:30 pm and was rushed to the Bethany Hospital there.
Doctors at the hospital said he was brought dead around 7pm. “He had no pulse when he was admitted to the hospital. We can attribute his death to cardiac arrest,” a doctor said.
The hospital authorities, however, refrained from confirming the death until Meghalaya governor V Shanmughanathan and chief secretary PBO Warjri visited the hospital around 8pm.
“The body of the former president will be flown to New Delhi via Guwahati Tuesday morning,” Warjri said.
Doctors at the hospital said he was brought dead around 7pm. “He had no pulse when he was admitted to the hospital. We can attribute his death to cardiac arrest,” a doctor said.
The hospital authorities, however, refrained from confirming the death until Meghalaya governor V Shanmughanathan and chief secretary PBO Warjri visited the hospital around 8pm.
“The body of the former president will be flown to New Delhi via Guwahati Tuesday morning,” Warjri said.
IIM-S officials said Kalam, who had tweeted in the morning about the function, showed no signs of illness after he reached the Meghalaya capital. “We had a packed house for the lecture on Liveable Planet Earth,” an official said.
Kalam was born in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu and studied physics and aerospace engineering. In this photo taken on 26 May 1989, Abdul Kalam is attending Agni's Scientists Press Conference. (HT Photo by Santosh Gupta)
Kalam was born in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu and studied physics and aerospace engineering. In this photo taken on 26 May 1989, Abdul Kalam is attending Agni's Scientists Press Conference. (HT Photo by Santosh Gupta)
From 'Missile Man' to 'People's President'
Kalam served as president for five years from 2002, enjoying the support of both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress.
Kalam was closely involved in the country's civilian space programme and military missile development efforts, earning him the sobriquet 'India's Missile Man'. He worked as a scientist and science administrator, mainly at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) before he became president.
He also played a pivotal technical and political role in India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, shortly after the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government came to power.
In this file photo Prime Minister AB Vajpayee, flanked by APJ Abdul Kalam and R Chidambaram inspects the site of the nuclear fission blast at Pokhran in Thar desert . (PTI photo)
After his term, he returned to a life of education, writing, and public service. He received several prestigious awards, including the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor.
The government is set to announce a national mourning of seven days.
"As president of India, Dr. Kalam was immensely popular and greatly admired. His warmth, humility and simple ways endeared him to one and all. He had a special love for children and sought to constantly inspire the youth of our country through motivational speeches and personal interaction," President Pranab Mukherjee said.
In this photo, President APJ Abdul Kalam waves while traveling in horse carriage at the ceremonial reception in the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan after the swearing ceremony in New Delhi. (Photo SN Sinha/HT)
In this photo, President APJ Abdul Kalam waves while traveling in horse carriage at the ceremonial reception in the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan after the swearing ceremony in New Delhi. (Photo SN Sinha/HT)
"India mourns the loss of a great scientist, a wonderful President & above all an inspiring individual. My mind is filled with so many memories, so many interactions with him. Always marvelled at his intellect, learnt so much from him, tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Dr. Kalam was a man of impeccable character, indomitable spirit, profound knowledge and firm conviction. His death is an irreparable loss to this nation. He has left a big void hard to fill," said home minister Rajnath Singh.
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 in a poor Tamil Muslim family in Rameswaram. But he overcame all odds to study physics and aerospace engineering.
After graduating from the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT – Chennai) in 1960, he joined DRDO as a scientist. He started his career by designing a small helicopter for the Indian Army.
In 1969, Kalam was transferred to ISRO, where he was project director of India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) which successfully deployed the Rohini satellite in orbit.
In the 1970s, Kalam also directed projects which sought to develop ballistic missiles from the technology of the successful SLV programme.
He later became chief executive of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme which developed missiles like Agni and Prithvi.
Kalam served as the chief scientific adviser to the Prime Minister and the secretary of the DRDO from July 1992 to December 1999 during which time Pokhran-II was conducted.
A P J Abdul Kalam's 79th birthday was recognised as World Student's Day by United Nations.
A P J Abdul Kalam's 79th birthday was recognised as World Student's Day by United Nations.
Role model for students
A vegetarian bachelor, Kalam was quoted as saying that like most of the technology he spearheaded, he himself was "Made in India", having never been trained abroad.
Kalam succeeded K R Narayanan and served a full five-year term from 2002 until 2007 after he won the presidential elections which was a highly one-sided contest with Lakshmi Sahgal, a revolutionary of the Indian Independence movement, as his rival. He secured the backing of all political parties.
Kalam succeeded K R Narayanan and served a full five-year term from 2002 until 2007 after he won the presidential elections which was a highly one-sided contest with Lakshmi Sahgal, a revolutionary of the Indian Independence movement, as his rival. He secured the backing of all political parties.
A role model for students and young people Kalam was always happy to be among them and educational institutions. He breathed his last in the premises of an educational institution.
Failed to become pilot, Abdul Kalam became rocket scientist
- PTI, New Delhi |
- Updated: Jul 28, 2015 08:14 IST
(Note: This article was first published in August 2013 and has been repurposed after the former president's death.)
For former president APJ Abdul Kalam, becoming a fighter pilot was a "dearest dream" but he failed to realise it by a whisker as he bagged the ninth position when only eight slots were available in the IAF.
In his new book My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions, published by Rupa, Kalam, who specialised in aeronautical engineering from Madras Institute of Technology, says he was desperate to pursue a career in flying.
"Over the years I had nurtured the hope to be able to fly to handle a machine as it rose higher and higher in the stratosphere was my dearest dream," he writes.
Out of the two interview calls Kalam got, one was from the Indian Air Force in Dehradun and the other from the Directorate of Technical Development and Production (DTDP) at the ministry of defence in Delhi.
While the interview at DTDP was "easy", he recounted that for the Air Force Selection Board, he realised that along with qualifications and engineering knowledge, they were also looking for a certain kind of "smartness" in the candidate.
Kalam bagged the ninth position out of 25 candidates and was not recruited as only eight slots were available.
"I had failed to realise my dream of becoming an air force pilot," he writes.
He says he "walked around for a while till I reached the edge of a cliff" before deciding to go to Rishikesh and "seek a new way forward".
"It is only when we are faced with failure do we realise that these resources were always there within us. We only need to find them and move on with our lives," says Kalam who went on to put his "heart and soul" at his job as the senior scientific assistant at DTDP.
The book is filled with stories of "innumerable challenges and learning" in his years as the scientific adviser when India conducted its second nuclear test, his retirement and dedication to teaching thereafter and his years as president.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/newdelhi/failed-to-become-pilot-became-rocket-scientist-kalam-in-his-book/article1-1109344.aspx
The man with wings of fire passes away
Former president Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, known as People's President, passed away in Shillong on Monday.
The 84-year-old scientist, who served as the 11th president of India from 2002 to 2007, collapsed around 6.30 pm while delivering a lecture at IIM-Shillong where he was a visiting professor. Kalam was rushed to the nearby Bethany hospital where he breathed his last.
Kalam has received several prestigious awards including the nation's highest honour, the Bharat Ratna.
A devout Muslim and son of a boat-owner, Kalam, whose flowing grey hair is seen as being at odds with what Indians thought a president ought to look like, was amongst the most respected people of the country who contributed immensely both as a scientist and as a President. Acknowledged as the driving force behind India's quest for cutting-edge defence technologies, Kalam's contributions to India's satellite programmes, guided and ballistic missiles project, nuclear weapons programme and the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project made him a household name. Born in Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu on October 15, 1931, Kalam joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) after studying physics and aerospace engineering after graduating from Madras Institute of Technology.
Mainly focusing on research in defence and space arena, he later involved himself in India's missile programme. His contribution to the ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology earned him the name "Missile Man of India". Kalam played a crucial role when India tested its nuclear weapons at Pokhran in 1998 when the Vajpayee government was in power. Kalam was quoted as saying that like most of the technology he spearheaded, he himself was "Made in India", having never been trained abroad.
Kalam succeeded K R Narayanan and served a full five-year term from 2002 until 2007 after he won the presidential elections which was a highly one-sided contest with Lakshmi Sahgal, a revolutionary of the Indian Independence movement, as his rival. He secured the backing of all political parties. With his appointment, Kalam became the first scientist and first ever bachelor to occupy the Rastrapati Bhawan.
After completing school, Kalam distributed newspapers to financially contribute to his father's income. In his school years, he had average grades, but was described as a bright and hardworking student who had a strong desire to learn and spend hours on his studies, especially mathematics. He has been awarded the coveted civilian awards -- Padma Bhushan (1981) and Padma Vibhushan (1990) and the Bharat Ratna (1997). He is a recipient of several other awards and Fellow of many professional institutions. A connoisseur of Carnatic music, he would play veena during his leisure time. Four of Kalam's books Wings of Fire, and Ignited Minds - Unleashing the power within India have become household names in India.
Schools, colleges closed
The state government has declared a holiday for schools, colleges and all government offices on Tuesday to mourn the death of former President Abdul Kalam. Official mourning has been announced.
The 84-year-old scientist, who served as the 11th president of India from 2002 to 2007, collapsed around 6.30 pm while delivering a lecture at IIM-Shillong where he was a visiting professor. Kalam was rushed to the nearby Bethany hospital where he breathed his last.
Kalam has received several prestigious awards including the nation's highest honour, the Bharat Ratna.
A devout Muslim and son of a boat-owner, Kalam, whose flowing grey hair is seen as being at odds with what Indians thought a president ought to look like, was amongst the most respected people of the country who contributed immensely both as a scientist and as a President. Acknowledged as the driving force behind India's quest for cutting-edge defence technologies, Kalam's contributions to India's satellite programmes, guided and ballistic missiles project, nuclear weapons programme and the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project made him a household name. Born in Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu on October 15, 1931, Kalam joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) after studying physics and aerospace engineering after graduating from Madras Institute of Technology.
Mainly focusing on research in defence and space arena, he later involved himself in India's missile programme. His contribution to the ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology earned him the name "Missile Man of India". Kalam played a crucial role when India tested its nuclear weapons at Pokhran in 1998 when the Vajpayee government was in power. Kalam was quoted as saying that like most of the technology he spearheaded, he himself was "Made in India", having never been trained abroad.
Kalam succeeded K R Narayanan and served a full five-year term from 2002 until 2007 after he won the presidential elections which was a highly one-sided contest with Lakshmi Sahgal, a revolutionary of the Indian Independence movement, as his rival. He secured the backing of all political parties. With his appointment, Kalam became the first scientist and first ever bachelor to occupy the Rastrapati Bhawan.
After completing school, Kalam distributed newspapers to financially contribute to his father's income. In his school years, he had average grades, but was described as a bright and hardworking student who had a strong desire to learn and spend hours on his studies, especially mathematics. He has been awarded the coveted civilian awards -- Padma Bhushan (1981) and Padma Vibhushan (1990) and the Bharat Ratna (1997). He is a recipient of several other awards and Fellow of many professional institutions. A connoisseur of Carnatic music, he would play veena during his leisure time. Four of Kalam's books Wings of Fire, and Ignited Minds - Unleashing the power within India have become household names in India.
Schools, colleges closed
The state government has declared a holiday for schools, colleges and all government offices on Tuesday to mourn the death of former President Abdul Kalam. Official mourning has been announced.
'Goodbyes should be short, really short': APJ Abdul Kalam's advisor documents his last moments
Indians reacted with shock and sadness on learning that former President APJ Abdul Kalam had passed away while giving a speech at IIM-Shillong. Bharat Ratna, President, scientist and author, Kalam had taken on many roles during his lifetime and everyone had something that they remembered fondly about him.
But even as Twitter and Facebook was flooded with quotes and other memories, an innocuous post by Srijan Pal Singh was perhaps the most insightful into the last days of the former president. Singh, an adviser to Kalam, was on the stage with him in Shillong when he collapsed and was taken to hospital. In a touching post, he documented his memories and interactions with Kalam over the past few weeks. Here are the highlights:
Kalam meets the guard who was part of his convoy. Image courtesy: Facebook/ Srijan Pal Singh
What Kalam spoke about on the way to Shillong
Singh wrote of what Kalam spoke of during his trip to Shillong and not surprisingly it was all about national issues. Singh's post says that Kalam was very worried about the loss of life in the terror strike in Gurdaspur and said “it seems the man made forces are as big a threat to the livability of earth as pollution”. The former president was also of the view that mankind may have to leave earth in 30 years and advised Singh that the future generation needed to take better care of it.
He was also worried about Parliament's functioning for the last few days.
“I have seen two different governments in my tenure. I have seen more after that. This disruption just keeps happening. It is not right. I really need to find out a way to ensure that the parliament works on developmental politics," Kalam had said earlier, according to Singh.
In what some would say was a typical Kalam-like plan, the former scientist said he would like to give a surprise assignment for the students of IIM-Shillong at the end of his speech. Kalam said he would ask them for innovative ways to make Parliament more productive.
"Then, after a while he returned on it. 'But how can ask them to give solutions if I don’t have any myself'." the former president noted, according to Singh.
'Sir aapke liye toh 6 ghante bhi khade rahenge'
Even on his last trip, Kalam showed why he was a beloved president.
"We were in a convoy of 6-7 cars. Dr. Kalam and I were in the second car. Ahead us was an open gypsy with three soldiers in it. Two of them were sitting on either side and one lean guy was standing atop, holding his gun. One hour into the road journey, Dr. Kalam said, 'Why is he standing? He will get tired. This is like punishment. Can you ask a wireless message to (be) given that he may sit?'" Singh wrote.
Singh said he tried to convince Kalam that the guard had probably been instructed to stand for better security but the former president wouldn't relent. They tried to signal him to sit down and even through radio message but they were unsuccessful.
"Finally, realizing there is little we can do – he told me, 'I want to meet him and thank him'. Later, when we landed in IIM Shillong, I went inquiring through security people and got hold of the standing guy. I took him inside and Dr. Kalam greeted him. He shook his hand, said thank you buddy. 'Are you tired? Would you like something to eat? I am sorry you had to stand so long because of me'. The young lean guard, draped in black cloth, was surprised at the treatment. He lost words, just said, 'Sir, aapke liye to 6 ghante bhi khade rahenge'(for you I would stand even for six hours)," Singh noted.
The last moments
Singh said that Kalam was characteristically enthusiastic about the lecture and never wanted to keep students waiting.
"I quickly set up his mike, briefed on final lecture and took position on the computers. As I pinned his mike, he smiled and said, 'Funny guy! Are you doing well?'
"'Funny guy’, when said by Kalam could mean a variety of things, depending on the tone and your own assessment. It could mean, you have done well, you have messed up something, you should listen to him or just that you have been plain naïve or he was just being jovial. Over six years I had learnt to interpret Funny Guy like the back of my palm. This time it was the last case," he wrote.
"'Funny guy! Are you doing well?' he said. I smiled back, 'Yes'. Those were the last words he said. Two minutes into the speech, sitting behind him, I heard a long pause after completing one sentence. I looked at him, he fell down," Singh wrote.
Singh said that they picked up the former President and tried to revive him.
"His hands clenched, curled onto my finger. There was stillness on his face and those wise eyes were motionlessly radiating wisdom. He never said a word. He did not show pain, only purpose was visible. In five minutes we were in the nearest hospital. In another few minutes the they indicated the missile man had flown away, forever. I touched his feet, one last time," Singh wrote.
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What Kalam wanted to be remembered for
Singh spoke about a discussion he had with Kalam some time ago about what they would want to be remembered for.
"'First you tell me, what will you like to be remembered for? President, Scientist, Writer, Missile man, India 2020, Target 3 billion…. What?' I thought I had made the question easier by giving options, but he sprang on me a surprise. 'Teacher'", he said.
Singh said that Kalam while discussing his friends, the former president had said that children should take care of their elders but it wasn't taking place always.
'He paused and said, 'Two things. Elders must also do. Never leave wealth at your deathbed – that leaves a fighting family. Second, one is blessed is one can die working, standing tall without any long drawn ailing. Goodbyes should be short, really short'," he noted.
http://www.firstpost.com/india/goodbyes-should-be-short-really-short-apj-abdul-kalams-advisor-documents-his-last-moments-2366656.html
Here's the full Facebook post:
Probably the greatest contribution of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalamji was preventing Sonia Gandhi from becoming the P.M. of our nation in 2004. Although A. P. J. Abdul Kalamji refused to admit in public, we all know how the cheerful looking Sonia Gandhi went to Rashtrapathi Bhavan with Dr. Manmohan Singhji and came out crestfallen after the meeting. Thereafter her spin doctors including Prannoy Roy and Rajdeep Sardesai fabricated the myth of her renouncing the post.
A myth now perpetuated for the history books by the Congress and their cohorts. We may never know the true facts about the drama of what transpired between Sonia's smug 'we are two- seventy-two' declaration before meeting Kalam, and a sulky,surly, tight lipped Sonia coming out from that meeting.afterwords. Subramaniam Swami's persuasive intervention in the matter is believed to have been behind Kalam's decision to turn down Sonia's claim to PMs office, thus saving the country from a disastrous fate. .
Subramanian Swamy who wrote to Dr. Kalam abt Sonia's PM post keeps repeating it in his speeaches. He has even said it on TV interviews. But for some reason we continue to believe the 'renounced' and 'stepped aside' theory.
Just as you'd have us believe that her son RG "renunciated" a Ministry (in all his ten years of UPA rule, he cleverly sidestepped assuming responsibility for this role). because he wanted to do 'party work' , go round the country spreading the Congress message? The harsh fact is neither mother nor son want accountability, only power, which they have appropriated to themselves, thanks to the sycophancy and" worship Gandhis" culture of Congress. And see where it has got them...to their lowest numbers in Parliament! All this talk of sacrifice and 'listening to inner voice' is rubbish!!!
Its so funny... after the 1998 Neclear testing....
The whole secular, leftists, intellectual gangs of that time had erupted in anger, disdain, and in total opposition!
Those of us who supported the test, were looked at like radicalised monsters, war mongers!
I was in Delhi... all my friends, colleagues were mocking and saying:
"Why do we have to blast...What was the need, couldn't we have kept it under wraps' and what not...!
Today the same gangs... are singing a different tune!
************
As an after thought, I think they disagreed at that time because it was seen as a BJP's doing, if they had any clue about Kalam, and his eventual rise to the position of President, they would have toned down their rhetoric!
Published: July 30, 2015 00:00 IST | Updated: July 30, 2015 05:59 IST
HYDERABAD, July 30, 2015
Did Kalam sense his end was near?
Did former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam have a premonition of his death? His close associate for 33 years and co-author of five books, Arun Tiwari, suspects he did.
Talking to The Hindu from Delhi on Tuesday, he said Mr. Kalam made a prophetic statement in the latest book “Transcendence: My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji”, which he co-authored with the former President. The book was officially launched on June 29.
The second paragraph on page 50 reads: “Now, finally, Pramukh Swamiji has put me in a God synchronous orbit. No manoeuvres are required any more, as I am placed in my final position in eternity.”
Mr. Tiwari said the words were haunting him now. “Reading them now, I feel he had some sort of a premonition.”
He also referred to a conversation he had with Mr. Kalam as they were returning in a car from Sarangpur, Gujarat, after handing over the book to Pramukh Swamiji on June 20. He asked the former President what writing project he would be tasked with next. “He surprised me by saying ‘whatever has to be written has been written.’ May be he knew in his sub-conscious mind,” Mr. Tiwari said.
Mr. Tiwari co-authored four other books with Mr. Kalam: ‘Wings of Fire’ (1999), ‘Guiding Souls: Dialogues on the Purpose of Life’ (2005), ‘You Are Born To Blossom’ (2006) and ‘Squaring The Circle: Seven Steps To Indian Renaissance’ (2011). While three of them — ‘Wings of Fire’, ‘Ýou Are Born To Blossom’ and ‘Transcendence’ — are autobiographical, the other two are in the form of conversations between Mr. Kalam and Mr. Tiwari.
Mr. Tiwari said his association with Mr. Kalam gave him a fairly good understanding of the latter’s “inner world” and how he felt and thought.
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Published: November 29, 2015 17:38 IST | Updated: November 29, 2015 17:38 IST Bhubaneswar, November 29, 2015'Kalam wanted to quit after Bihar Assembly dissolution was quashed'
The Hindu
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. File photo: M. SrinathA.P.J. Abdul Kalam had thought of quitting as the President in 2005 after the Supreme Court quashed the proclamation dissolving Bihar Assembly, according to S.M. Khan, who was his Press Secretary at that time.
“Though Kalam was reluctant, he signed the proclamation. He could have rejected it but would have had no option but to sign the same if it was sent to him for the second time,” Mr. Khan said while addressing the students of Sikshya O Ansandhan University in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
When the Apex court quashed the proclamation, Kalam was penitent saying he should have rejected the Cabinet’s decision and thought of resigning from his post, Mr. Khan said, adding “He even consulted his elder brother in Rameswaram. Kalam later decided against any such step as it would have triggered a lot of constitutional problems, said the former Press Secretary, who is at present the Director General of RNI, in his lecture titled ‘My Days with the Greatest Human Soul Ever.’
In 2005, the then Bihar Governor Buta Singh had recommended the dissolution of the Assembly which the Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh approved and forwarded to the President. Kalam, who was on a visit to Moscow at that time, signed it there.
It was challenged in the Supreme Court whose five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, in a majority verdict held on October 7, 2005 that “the proclamation of May 23 dissolving the Bihar Assembly is unconstitutional.”
Describing Kalam, who passed away in July this year, as a person who was completely detached from material things, Khan said the late President did not own anything, be it a house, a car, a television or a refrigerator.
“Almost all his life as a scientist and teacher, he lived in hostels and guest houses. But his only possession were his books. And he insisted that he should buy his books and never took any book from any one as a gift saying chances were that he would not read them,” he said.
Mr. Khan also recalled that the technology-savvy President once informed Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee that he intended to meet his cabinet members as he wanted to explain to them about his vision for a developed India by 2020, a pet theme for him till the last, through a power point presentation.
Though the Prime Minister was not convinced, he agreed to the proposal and a cabinet meeting was held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Kalam took the PM and other ministers through the presentation spread over two hours, Mr. Khan said.
He had a penchant for power point presentations and would insist on the same even when he was meeting foreign dignitaries and head of states.
“When President George Bush visited him in 2006, he made him sit through a presentation,” said Mr. Khan who was present during the talk.
“After the presentation ended, Bush told him ‘Sir, it needs to be a scientist to understand this. But we will work on this’,” Mr. Khan recalled.
He said that when Kalam’s tenure was coming to an end, there was intense media speculation as to whether he would be offered a second term in the high office.
The then UPA government, however, was not in favour of Kalam getting a second term though some political leaders urged him to contest as an independent. The idea got a boost when the BJP, which had set up Mr. Bhairon Singh Sekhawat as its candidate against UPA’s Ms. Pratibha Patil, hinted that it might even pull out its candidate and support Kalam as an independent. But Kalam declined to contest.
Kalam had great interest in religion and spiritual matters too, Khan said adding that he (Kalam) would often say that ‘all religions were beautiful islands but there was no connectivity between them.’
Though a renowned scientist, he felt science and religion working together could achieve wonders, the former aide said.
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