KOCHI: With the loss of one of India’s most influential sons APJ Abdul Kalam, the other day, a gripping gloom has engulfed the whole nation. Though he was laid to rest at his native place in Rameswaram, Tamilnadu on Thursday, his admirers says that his contributions, ethics and morals is sure to transcend time.
During this time of grief, one of Kalam’s admirers, K M Mathew, a motivational speaker-cum-teacher based in Kochi recollects moments he had with the former President, when the latter visited the city in 2008.
“ Kalam was here to inaugurate a programme related to differently-abled children at the Town Hall. After much strain, I finally received the opportunity to meet the “missile man” of India. I was also carrying a small present for him, which was a poetic work praising the contributions of Kalam under the title ‘Salaam to Dr Kalam’,which analyses his tenure as a President and as a scientist. After receiving the work, he nodded in an appreciating manner,” said K M Mathew.
When asked about if Kalam had said something to him at the brief meeting, Mathew said that the ex-President who was also an orator himself had been impressed with his work and vocabulary. “ He directed me to work towards the personality development of children and provide them proper guidance. From that day, I set aside my manhours exclusively for teaching children.”
According to Mathew, he has been a guest lecturer in English and Commerce at various colleges. He also took classes on motivation and personality for school and college students, occassionaly. When asked, whether he used to refer students to the life of Kalam in his classes, Mathew does not hesitate.
I often ask my students to gain inspiration from the life and works of Kalam. He had scaled great heights through hardship and determination. My work on Kalam has been penned by gaining inspiration from Plato’s Republic, where he presented the concept of ‘philosopher king’, who is the only person who can be trusted to rule well. For me, Kalam is my philosopher king. It will be the same for others also,”, Mathew said.
According to K M Mathew, the ex-President directed him to work towards the personality development of children