I'm teary eyed today. APJ Abdul Kalam remits office as the first citizen of the country today.
Kalam came in as a whiff of fresh air in the otherwise gloomy and stagnant spectrum of Indian politics. He was (and is) certainly not a politician. A scientist, academician and a wonderful human being- revered by one and all. He brought with him a 4 letter word that one could not associate with too many in public life- HOPE. A perennial aura of optimism seems to revolve around him, isn't it?
I've admired him for a variety of reasons- prominent among them being his ability to stay rooted to the ground and his ability to connect with people across age, race and religion. Those who watched him on TV at the RamNath Goenka memorial debate would agree with me.
He is a visionary. The question we need ask ourselves is if we are worthy of his vision. He sees India growing "happy together". What a thought!!!
Can we think of any politician, any where in the world, in modern times, who can talk of "values" as a building block in a country's growth. Maybe, it is because he is not a politician that he can speak like this.
History shall recount Dr. Kalam as a great scientist, an unparalleled visionary and an amazing human being. It is the country's misfortune that the ruling political confusion/ coalition chose not to renominate Dr. Kalam for president.
The consolation however is that, Kalam the academic is back.... maybe thats the place he would be most happy...
2 comments:
Could not agree with you more. I sometimes feel that the parties in power often forget what the educated masses of India would want. They get driven by mass popularity - something that the intelligencia will never be in India. Not as long as our population explodes as it does!
Cheers to a visionary and a man with a mission. Mr. Kalam will be missed by even those of us who do NOT follow politics!
Cent percent agree with you my friend. The persona Dr. Kalam carry not only inspire the educated but also citizens living in every corner of the country. I think not renominating him for the President's position is a reflection of where and how the politicians want to take India to.
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