Dr APJ Kalam

As Indians line up to pay homage to Dr APJ Kalam, not as Hindus, Muslims, Christians or Sikhs, not as rich or poor, not as this casteman or that, not as bigger or smaller, but as a single sad obliged entity, they pay a tribute to genuine Indianness. As politicians from divergent streams merge to a single block of much-obliged, head-bent down gentry, it proves that it is possible to overcome narrow parochial divisions that restrict our prospects of individual and collective growth. As millions of teary eyed Hindus fold their hands before the fatherly figure and millions of Muslims put their praying palms out for the peace of the departed soul, it gives a prospect that Hindus and Muslims can have a lot in common than they are having presently.

Visualize India without the assuring names like Agni, Prithvi, Brahmos, Nag, Trishul and of course the nuclear armaments, it instantly shows why we needed APJ Kalam. We can hold our dreams of becoming a developed nation because we have a semblance of security born of his military science achievements. We can more assuredly move on to the path of development because he has laid down a whole plan for us to follow. The Missile Man, The Most Popular President, The Big Dreamer, The 2020 Visionary, The Professor, The Speaker! He had many avatars, but just one dream. The dream of making India big by igniting minds, by firing the creativity and potential in youth, like he fired our leaps into the space through ballistic technology. It is difficult to analyze whether he was more of a scientist or a spiritualist. When the death sniffed out this bright light from amongst us, he was still dispelling darkness from our minds.

He touched Presidential seat with an unprecedented grace. Ironically, his ascension to the political seat was facilitated by the so called ‘danger to the secular fabric’ in the country. Still more ironically, his chances for a second term were nullified by the so called ‘safe keepers of secularism’ in this country. He deserved to be President again. But who can tame the genuine motives in earnest souls?! Dreams are no slaves to posts and positions. More luckily for the Indian youth, the ex-president kept on his path of igniting minds through his relentless lectures and public addresses. Few people do the things they love doing most even till their last moment. The tragic hand of death cannot snatch away the legacy the great man left when he collapsed on the lecture stage. Heartiest salutes to this Bharat Ratna! May almighty bestow him all peace in after life!