Schools that vied for his presence mourn in unison

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 28

As the country mourns the passing away of former President Abdul Kalam, admirers and friends in Dehradun could not help but recount the numerous visits he made to Dehradun leaving them enriched with his thoughts and views.

A much sought after speaker, Kalam was a frequent visitor to Dehradun as various schools and institutions vied with each other in winning his presence to deliver a lecture.

Prof Dhirender Sharma, who befriended Kalam in the 80s, still recounts the first day he met him in Delhi. “I had written a critical piece about the missile programme and had stressed on the need to take a long shot at the programme by planning ahead. Perhaps, he was the first scientist who reacted to criticism in this manner. Then on our friendship took roots and blossomed,” said Sharma who set up the centre for studies dedicated to science policy at the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University and is now settled at Purukul in Dehradun.

Kalam also valued the advice that his friend in Dehradun gave to him from time to time. “My suggestion that the country’s scientific community come up with a long term plan for the missile and other government driven scientific programmes led him to formulate the 2020 vision at the IIT, Roorkee. Also, I must add that at my behest he also decided to write his biography and other books which give a peak into his life and ideas,” added Sharma.

Sharma recounted his humility and deep abiding faith in all religions and said he was perhaps the finest example of India’s syncretism. “He could speak on Hinduism and leave his audience spell bound by his deep knowledge, yet he never made a show of it,” explained Sharma.

Several of his friends remember how he never allowed his friends and guests to use the Rashtrapati Bhavan by gently telling them to make arrangements at some other place.

Just six months back, Kalam had visited a local school and had spent time interacting with the schoolchildren. In 2010, during a visit to the Heritage School when inquisitive children asked him about India going nuclear under him, Kalam had then replied that that a peace-loving India couldn’t ignore its defence needs, and missile programmes acted as the guarantors of peace.

In schools, the teacher in him took the centre stage as he urged children to go after their dreams and achieve them by following a truthful path. Children flocked to him and heard him with rapt attention, as he allowed them to raise questions and he willingly answered to them.

Though a popular President, at the end of his term Kalam did not lobby with the new government for another term. “It was not in his nature to lobby for office. He became the President of the country at the call of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The job having ended, he decided to leave. He became more popular out of office,” said Sharma.