Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. The world knows him as India’s Missile Man and People’s President. To me, he is a personification of humility, generosity and optimism. Kalam garu, as I always called him, was one of the finest human beings I have met. He was a dear friend and one of the few people I have always looked up to in my life. Kalam garu’s spontaneity always inspired me.
Having observed him closely, I’m one among the millions across the globe who enjoyed his interactive speeches. One such instance was when Kalam garu and I shared the dais last year while launching the Primary Sector Mission (focusing on agriculture) in Anantapur district. While addressing a gathering of farmers, he called them “farmer friends” and spoke fluently in Telugu. He told them that they are a mighty force and are partners in nation’s development. I remember vividly how he made farmers recite a poem titled “I will fly” that he had written. “I will fly… I’m born with potential, I’m born with goodness and trust, I’m born with ideas and dreams, I’m born with confidence, I’m born with wings...I’m not meant for crawling, I have wings…I will fly…I will fly…I will fly,” he recited, with love for farmers.
He also spoke extensively about the integration of technology and agriculture. From Rameswaram to Raisina Hill, his journey is an outstanding example of what a human being can achieve through hardwork, perseverance and determination. My first meeting with Kalam garu was during my first term as the Chief Minister of AP when we had met over “Vision 2020”. That was when he had given me a task of preparing a draft for “Vision 2020” while he was working on it. A memory of Kalam garu’s humbleness that is etched in my mind is when he defied protocol as the President of India and visited me at my Jubilee Hills residence on October 3, 2003, soon after I survived the Alipiri Blast.
He enquired about my health and spoke about the essential qualities of leadership. I’m glad to have had the opportunity of collectively proposing his name for the President during Vajpayeeji’s Prime Ministership. From nurturing India’s guided missile programme to keeping the doors of Rashtrapati Bhavan open to people, he went to great lengths to make himself accessible and approachable to people of this country.
One cannot forget instances of Kalam garu’s humility, where he invited a cobbler as one of the Presidential Guests to Raj Bhavan in Kerala nor can one overlook the fact that he had posted a question on Yahoo Answers asking people, “What do we do to free the planet of terrorism?” His love for children and the zeal to encourage, ignite minds of millions was laudable. He was an epitome of knowledge, intellect and love. He always believed that the best teachers are facilitators of innovation; of new ideas; creators of lifelong habit of innovative thinking. In some of our conversations, he told me that he enjoyed being a teacher.
“It gives me immense satisfaction and joy,” he quipped, adding “Which other profession enjoys such recognition and is as crucial to the development of the human race as a whole?” He taught us how to dream big, without the fear of winning or losing. He continues to live in our hearts. Above all, he showed the world he was a simple man with big dreams. Let us strive to make this world a better place to live in and aim for success of an India he dreamt of. In Kalam garu’s words: “The country doesn’t deserve anything less than success from us. Let us aim for success.”
(The author is the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh)