Lest we forget a Great Dream !

Syed Nooruzzaman

Those living in Mosque Street, Rameswarm (a small town on Pamban Island in Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram district), would never have thought that the baby born in their midst on October 15, 1931, was an extraordinary soul, a gift of the Almighty given to India to acquire the status of the modern role model for the country's children.

Of course, it was impossible to realise at that stage that the little one - -- Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam -- would one day grow to become the best choice to be invited to occupy the highest constitutional position in the country --- that of the President of India.

However, from Rameswaram to Rashtrapati Bhawan was an arduous journey for the person, for whom life was not all cakes and ale. Luck first guided him to find an entry into India's scientific establishment, where he worked hard with utmost dedication to reach the peak in his field.
He considered Dr Vikram Sarabhai, father of India's space programme, as his role model from whom he drew inspiration to remain dedicated to his work during his years of trial and tribulation Ultimately, Kalam emerged as one of the most valuable scientific brains to preside over India's missile programme to earn that coveted sobriquet, The Missile Man.
But that was not all that providence had in store for Kalam. There came a time when the nation's search for a new occupant of Rashtrapati Bhawan ended at his door. Almost everybody who was somebody during Atal Behari Vajpayee's Prime Ministership unanimously agreed that The Missile Man was the most suitable person to adorn the chair of the President of India.
Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav has been claiming that it was originally his idea which was lapped up by Vajpayee. That is, however, not as important as the fact that Kalam was destined to

The book provides an interesting and very meaningful insight into the life of Dr Kalam, particularly after he got elevated as the President of India. It has been written with passion, showing great admiration for the man who, as Khan says, "continues to live in the imagination of the people, particularly the youth of the nation".

occupy the highest constitutional position in the country and he did it with distinction.

SM KHAN The book under review, "The People's President", by S.M. Khan, Press Secretary to the late President Kalam for five years from August 2002, brings out in vivid detail the qualities of head and heart of Kalam.
He loved interacting with everybody, but children acquired the pride of place in his scheme of things. He had himself childlike curiosity about understanding different issues, and would feel at ease while mingling with youngsters. During his tenure as President "School students were invited (to Rashtrapati Bhawan) every week. They would first visit the Children's Gallery, which Dr Kalam had set up in Rashtrapati Bhawan, and then they would interact with the President.

President Kalam addressing an audience in his characteristic style. The author is standing by his side Their interaction would last about an hour", as Khan mentions in his book.
The intensity of his fascination for children, the future of any society, can be easily understood from the fact that Dr Kalam dedicated his book, "Ignited Minds", to a class 12 school student of Anandalaya High School of Anand, Gujarat. He was moved to take this decision when the girl student, in reply to the question "Who is our enemy?", said, "Our enemy is poverty".
However, his love for people was not limited to youngsters. He liked meeting people coming from all sections of society. As the author points out in the book, "…right since the day he was sworn in, he wanted Rashtrapati Bhawan to be a people's place, where their grievances would be addressed." It was not for nothing that he earned another sobriquet from the media and the masses, the "People's President".

President Bharat Ratna Dr Kalam with another Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan at the latter's concert in Rastrapati Bhavan His election as the 11th President of India got hearty welcome from the media all over the country. In the words of S.M. Khan, "In fact, even before his name was announced, senior columnists and editors were suggesting his name as one of the choices. Noted columnist and Editorin- Chief, Shri Hari Jaisingh, wrote on 7 June 2002 in The Tribune, Chandigarh two weeks before the announcement of his candidature: "I would like to have someone (as President) who is cent per cent Indian at heart and Indian in his outlook. One such outstanding Indian is APJ Abdul Kalam. What is needed today is the ability to think Indian and act Indian --- beyond the majority and minority syndrome. This is where Dr Kalam stands out as among the few tallest Indians."
The author records that while addressing a gathering of media persons and others on the occasion of National Press Day, on November 16, 2006, Dr Kalam expressed the view, "The media, in addition to news analysis, views and reporting, should carry out research to self-evaluate its role in the uplift of society."
The book provides an interesting and very meaningful insight into the life of Dr Kalam, particularly after he got elevated as the President of India. It has been written with passion, showing great admiration for the man who, as Khan says, "continues to live in the imagination of the people, particularly the youth of the nation". Dr Kalam wanted India to achieve the status of a developed nation by 2020. He had come out with a blueprint also as Vision 2020 to ensure that this objective was achieved. Now it is the responsibility of those at the helm of affairs to see how the great dream of the People's President can be realised by the time he had envisioned.



		EDITOR'S MAIL MATTERS OF PUBLIC POLICY NOTEBANDI DRAMA NOTEBANDI DRAMA FRANKLY SPEAKING POLL 2017 TAMIL NADU POLITICS TAMIL NADU POLITICS REALPOLITIK POLITICAL RESERVATION KASHMIR WATCH A HOLLOW RITUALRY ENVIRONMENTAL FALLOUT BABY TRAFFICKING AVIATION NOTE HITS & MISSES SPORT NOTEBOOK NEW PAK ARMY CHIEF PAGE FROM HISTORY MIDDLE EAST SCENE US WATCH NEW WHITE HOUSE INDO-VIETNAMESE TIES BOOK BAZAAR BOOK BAZAAR GENDER VIOLENCE SIGNS OF THE TIMES YOGA IN DAILY LIFE-IX ART OF LIVING Issue:January' 2017 Subscribe Now	BOOK BAZAAR Lest we forget a Great Dream ! Syed Nooruzzaman Those living in Mosque Street, Rameswarm (a small town on Pamban Island in Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram district), would never have thought that the baby born in their midst on October 15, 1931, was an extraordinary soul, a gift of the Almighty given to India to acquire the status of the modern role model for the country's children. Of course, it was impossible to realise at that stage that the little one - -- Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam -- would one day grow to become the best choice to be invited to occupy the highest constitutional position in the country --- that of the President of India. However, from Rameswaram to Rashtrapati Bhawan was an arduous journey for the person, for whom life was not all cakes and ale. Luck first guided him to find an entry into India's scientific establishment, where he worked hard with utmost dedication to reach the peak in his field. He considered Dr Vikram Sarabhai, father of India's space programme, as his role model from whom he drew inspiration to remain dedicated to his work during his years of trial and tribulation Ultimately, Kalam emerged as one of the most valuable scientific brains to preside over India's missile programme to earn that coveted sobriquet, The Missile Man. But that was not all that providence had in store for Kalam. There came a time when the nation's search for a new occupant of Rashtrapati Bhawan ended at his door. Almost everybody who was somebody during Atal Behari Vajpayee's Prime Ministership unanimously agreed that The Missile Man was the most suitable person to adorn the chair of the President of India. Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav has been claiming that it was originally his idea which was lapped up by Vajpayee. That is, however, not as important as the fact that Kalam was destined to The book provides an interesting and very meaningful insight into the life of Dr Kalam, particularly after he got elevated as the President of India. It has been written with passion, showing great admiration for the man who, as Khan says, "continues to live in the imagination of the people, particularly the youth of the nation". occupy the highest constitutional position in the country and he did it with distinction. SM KHAN The book under review, "The People's President", by S.M. Khan, Press Secretary to the late President Kalam for five years from August 2002, brings out in vivid detail the qualities of head and heart of Kalam. He loved interacting with everybody, but children acquired the pride of place in his scheme of things. He had himself childlike curiosity about understanding different issues, and would feel at ease while mingling with youngsters. During his tenure as President "School students were invited (to Rashtrapati Bhawan) every week. They would first visit the Children's Gallery, which Dr Kalam had set up in Rashtrapati Bhawan, and then they would interact with the President. President Kalam addressing an audience in his characteristic style. The author is standing by his side Their interaction would last about an hour", as Khan mentions in his book. The intensity of his fascination for children, the future of any society, can be easily understood from the fact that Dr Kalam dedicated his book, "Ignited Minds", to a class 12 school student of Anandalaya High School of Anand, Gujarat. He was moved to take this decision when the girl student, in reply to the question "Who is our enemy?", said, "Our enemy is poverty". However, his love for people was not limited to youngsters. He liked meeting people coming from all sections of society. As the author points out in the book, "…right since the day he was sworn in, he wanted Rashtrapati Bhawan to be a people's place, where their grievances would be addressed." It was not for nothing that he earned another sobriquet from the media and the masses, the "People's President". President Bharat Ratna Dr Kalam with another Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan at the latter's concert in Rastrapati Bhavan His election as the 11th President of India got hearty welcome from the media all over the country. In the words of S.M. Khan, "In fact, even before his name was announced, senior columnists and editors were suggesting his name as one of the choices. Noted columnist and Editorin- Chief, Shri Hari Jaisingh, wrote on 7 June 2002 in The Tribune, Chandigarh two weeks before the announcement of his candidature: "I would like to have someone (as President) who is cent per cent Indian at heart and Indian in his outlook. One such outstanding Indian is APJ Abdul Kalam. What is needed today is the ability to think Indian and act Indian --- beyond the majority and minority syndrome. This is where Dr Kalam stands out as among the few tallest Indians." The author records that while addressing a gathering of media persons and others on the occasion of National Press Day, on November 16, 2006, Dr Kalam expressed the view, "The media, in addition to news analysis, views and reporting, should carry out research to self-evaluate its role in the uplift of society." The book provides an interesting and very meaningful insight into the life of Dr Kalam, particularly after he got elevated as the President of India. It has been written with passion, showing great admiration for the man who, as Khan says, "continues to live in the imagination of the people, particularly the youth of the nation". Dr Kalam wanted India to achieve the status of a developed nation by 2020. He had come out with a blueprint also as Vision 2020 to ensure that this objective was achieved. Now it is the responsibility of those at the helm of affairs to see how the great dream of the People's President can be realised by the time he had envisioned.