India bids goodbye to popular president Kalam

[Maddy]

India bids goodbye to popular president Kalam
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/86465.html

New Delhi - APJ Abdul Kalam will be remembered as an immensely popular president who brought vision and dignity to the office while constantly exhorting his countrymen to aim for a developed India where governance was responsive, transparent and corruption-free. India's first non-political president, Kalam, 76, handed over charge to the new president Pratibha Patil, at a ceremonial function Wednesday.

Kalam's story is one of grit and determination. Born in a family of fishermen in the small town of Rameshwaram in southern Tamil Nadu state, he rose to occupy the highest position in the country.

Along the way, he became one of India's most-eminent scientists with significant contributions to the country's aerospace programme.

Kalam led the project to develop India's first indigenously built satellite-launch vehicle and is known as the architect of the country's ambitious missile programme. He held the top positions at the state-run Indian Space Research Organization and the Defence Research and Development Organization.

As scientific advisor to the defence minister, he played a key role in India's nuclear test in 1998.

As president of India for five years, Kalam leaves behind a rich legacy. There is his concept of the India Millenium Mission 2020 - a blueprint for transforming India into a developed nation and ambitious projects to bridge the digital divide.

He was also the first supreme commander of the Indian armed forces to visit troops at the Siachen glacier - described as the world's highest battlefield - and to make a submarine sortie and fly in a supersonic Sukhoi 30 combat aircraft.

A devout Muslim, vegetarian and teetotaller, he also leaves behind a 10-acre herb garden he planted in magnificent presidential palace or Raj Bhavan.

At the 350-room Raj Bhavan, Kalam followed the same simple and frugal lifestyle he has always been known for. Perhaps one of his few vanities was the trademark shaggy haircut styled by one of India's top hairdressers.

Kalam recently said he would be leaving the presidential palace with just two suitcases and his books, which are his own.

A residence is being prepared for him in Delhi, but Kalam plans to head straight for Tamil Nadu capital Chennai where he is scheduled to give lectures at the Anna University where he once studied aeronautical engineering.

Kalam has said he plans to spend his time teaching, reading writing and connecting with young people whom he is always ready to meet and exhorts "to dream, dream and dream and to think big."

He often said his 2020 mission could be achieved only by focusing on the children of India and igniting their minds.

The confirmed bachelor is said to have met over 1 million children over the past five years as president.

He was one of India's most-accessible presidents, and his popularity was evident when large percentages of respondents to opinion polls conducted by leading newspapers and television channels said they would like to have him for a second term.

Kalam was agreeable only if he was backed unanimously by all political parties. But given India's increasingly partisan politics, that was not to be.

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