Salaam Kalam!

As one of India’s most popular Presidents if not the most, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, gives way to the nation’s first Lady President, the commentariat and the chattering class, the classes and the masses, find that they are at a loss for words to fully and accurately describe the impact Kalam Saab has had on the nation.

Much has been written about his life history, his triumphs and tribulations, his extraordinary ability to connect with the youth, his vision for the country, his tryst with India’s nuclear bomb and his path to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Everything about Mr Kalam is in the public domain so it is rather pointless to repeat what is already known. Suffice it to say that he leaves behind a legacy that will be difficult if not impossible to keep up to.

In the last days of his presidency, Sri Kalam, caught in the rough and tumble of dirty Indian politics, intriguingly gave the impression of thoroughly enjoying himself in the race! Initially, when Dr Kalam indicated his reluctance for a second term, the nation, predictably, lost interest in the presidential race, as it is difficult, if not impossible, to think of a replacement that would match his eloquence, energy, enthusiasm, charisma, and character.

This is not to suggest that the incumbent President, but without being judgmental about their individual traits, it is plain to one and all that what Madam President brings to the table is peanuts, compared to the rich flavour and spread of Kalam Sir.

Few if any expected the sudden twist in the presidential tale when Dr Kalam confounded even the shrewdest political brain with his willingness to take a plunge for a second term, if his victory was “certain”.

Immediately thereafter, the political scientists went to work, trying to unravel the mind and mystic of India’s most popular space scientist. Was Kalam having a re-think? Was he trying to say something between the lines? Or was he being unwittingly used by the avarice and ambitions of our various political parties?

Recently Chandrababu Naidu, the former CM of AP stated that were the Indian President been voted directly by the people, Dr Kalam’s election for a second term, would have been a foregone conclusion.

You don’t need the world’s most rigorous electoral exercise to test his popularity; even a simple voice vote would suffice to put to rest any doubt.