KOTTAYAM: “Are you Saven?”, the gentle but strong voice of A P J Abdul Kalam still resonates in the ears of Saven Jube Sajen, 17, who sent an e-mail to the former President ten years ago expressing his yearning to meet him.
The mail of a seven year-old was strong enough for President Kalam to reschedule his itinerary and visit his school Little Kingdom and St Jude Junior, then situated at Vadavathoor, a village in Kottayam.
An unfortunate coincidence of the meeting is that Kalam’s funeral will be held exactly ten years after the former President met Saven on July 29, 2005.
Saven began adoring Kalam after reading his autobiography ‘Wings of Fire’, which he was gifted by his parents on his seventh birthday. When his mother informed him of Kalam’s arrival to Kottayam for a function at the Rubber Board, Saven collected Kalam’s e-mail address and e-mailed to the President. A few days later, a team of police officials reached their school to make preparations for the President’s visit. “I was scared when Kalam sir had inquired about me to Sreejith uncle (then Kottayam SP and now DIG, S Sreejith),” he said. When Saven stood close to him, Kalam asked “Why did you e-mail me?”
Saven replied, “I want to be like you. For that I need your blessing.” Kalam raised his right hand and touched Saven’s head. “It was really electrifying,” said Saven.