Great Salute to "A Man of India"

[Sai Jai]

APJ Abdul Kalam has left an indelible
mark on the hearts and minds of
Indians in a manner few other public
figures have in recent memory. In
death he achieved the kind of acclaim
in people's hearts that politicians covet
but may never come close to attaining.
More articles on APJ Abdul Kalam
In material terms, the "People's
President", it now transpires, owned
precious little, save his 2,500 books, a
wrist watch, six shirts, four trousers,
three suits and a pair of shoes. Kalam
did not own any property nor a fridge,
TV, car or an air conditioner. This for a
man who spent over five decades in
public service, including his stint as
President of the Republic.
He did not die in penury, but neither
did he live a life of luxury. He survived
on the royalty from his books - he
authored four of them - and his
pension. The exact amount of his life
savings is not known.

 

[Sai Jai]

RE: Great Salute to A Man of India

contd.."It wasn't much
to write home about," said Sheridan,
his secretary for over two decades.
After he demitted office, the
government allotted him a bungalow
at 10 Rajaji Marg. The two-storey
house lies desolate today but tales of
his integrity are still alive. He was firm
about not receiving any personal gifts
and ensured that all personal gifts
were duly tabulated and sent to the
government's toshakhana.
"He would never accept a gift, save a
book, and whenever somebody
brought him a packed gift and tried to
pass it off as a book, he insisted on
examining what was inside. Anything
other than the book was politely
returned," says his former media
advisor SM Khan.
Kalam's love for technology is well
known and he kept himself abreast of
the latest developments mainly
through radio. "He did not have a
television set in his living quarters. He
got his news either from radio or
newspapers.

 

[Sai Jai]

RE: Great Salute to A Man of India

contd....The only TV set at his
Rajaji Marg residence was used by his
staff," Khan said.
Khan recalled how the former
President revered his elder brother,
who is 99 years old. Kalam held his
elder brother APJ Marakia in great
esteem and was full of plans to
celebrate his brother's 100th birthday
next year. "One of the things that
gave him (Kalam) immense joy was
when he helped his brother get access
to 24-hour power supply by installing
a solar panel at their ancestral home,"
says Sheridan, adding, "President
Kalam would always call him (his
brother) before leaving or returning
from an important lecture assignment.
He had called him the day before
leaving for Shillong."
"The lives of great men remind us, we
can make our lives sublime, and,
departing, leave behind us, footprints
on the sands of time." Former
president APJ Abdul Kalam wasn't
around when Wordsworth wrote these
lines. Had both the men belonged to
the same age then these lines would
have surely been written for Kalam.

 

[Sai Jai]

RE: Great Salute to A Man of India

Article was published by india today television.....wat a human it is impossible to live like mr.kalam ji.... Brave salute to him- jaihind

 

[iSK]

Really Great tup.:Tup