APJ Kalam - Interacting with him ......a soldier would easily lay down his sword

 

Mehnat itni khamoshi se karo ki safalta shor macha dey

(Work hard so much silently that your success story becomes a national/global craze)

The above quote will be a good way to pay tribute to the former President APJ Abdul Kalam, who breathed his last on July 27, 2015.

Pages are being written about APJ Kalam......but I doubt had it not been for 2002 anti-Muslim mayhem, he would have become President of India. 
Dr P C Alexander, then Maharashtra Governor, was perhaps much ahead in the race.
Alexander later charged Congress with derailing him on the ground that "Congress did not want a Christian as President".

BJP opted for APJ Kalam to cover up its anti-Muslim image due to 2002 mayhem...That APJ did not get second term....and then then Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi carried out his madam's instructions to use some objectionable words against Dr APJ him in 2007 is sad! Even Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar, who like Somnath Chatterjee, does not lose time to preach morality, did not lag behind. Under pressure, both had to later clarify that their assault pertained to a "potential candidate" and not to the President of Republic. 

Nevertheless, Dr Kalam will remain in the heart of millions of Indians as “people’s President”, a great scientist and missile man who made the country realize its nuclear-power dream.

APJ as Maj Gen Prithviraj: Pokhran 2

For Operation Shakti, as the nuclear tests were called, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, dressed in Army uniform, was known as Major General Prithviraj. 

My assessment about the man on the hind side would be that Dr Kalam would be or rather should be best remembered for his intellectual tilt towards ancient Hindu teachings as well as the modern scientific realms. The synthesis he cherished later became a part of his life. This is precisely one thing that must have endeared him to the saffron brigade but had also gelled well with the BJP leadership of the time, especially the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

How much he went on well with Dr Manmohan Singh needs some analysis and this is probably not the time. However, one remembers with sadness the angry outbursts of Congress minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi.

In retrospect, on June 20, 2007, President Kalam took everyone by surprise by saying that he would consider contesting for a second term provided there was “certainty” over his win – switching from the word 'consensus' to ‘majority’. This prompted UNPA (Third Front) –likes of Jayalalitha and Mulayam Singh Yadav to start on their path to convince the UPA and NDA to support Kalam. 

Can photo tell some hidden stories? 

Too keen to impress 'empress' Sonia, who wanted her handpicked Pratibha Patil as next President, Priyaranjan Dasmunshi did not think twice to term the development “unfortunate” that Kalam has made such a statement. "It has never happened in the history of Indian politics that someone is persuaded to become a candidate for the presidential polls. At the same time, no such communication should come if certainty or consensus comes." 

NCP president Sharad Pawar, also a Neta with Congress-DNA, said Kalam's candidature was a ‘political move’ and said that the UPA will stand by its candidate. "Kalam's indications are surprising. It is just a political move and Dr Kalam will not be a player in the race. The entire race will be between just two candidates and ultimately Pratibha Patil will win," Pawar had said. 

That Pratibha Patil succeeded to become President of India is only a testimony of callousness and rather helpless common Indians have in terms of choosing individual to such coveted constitutional posts. Pratibha Patil’s dedication to Sonia’s political dynasty was obviously legendary. On the grapevine front, many people recalled Gyani Zail Singh.

A Karmayogi

Now, let us examine how BJP and the Vajpayee government reconciled to make APJ their Presidential candidate and in the process let down the then Vice President Krishan Kant and P C Alexander.

I had dealt a bit about APJ Kalam's election as President in my first book 'Godhra - A Journey to Mayhem'.

Here's some extracts:

"The (BJP) think tank got back in business and one evening shifted focus on the Presidential polls. .....

Vajpayee, George Fernandes, Kalam: Pokhran 2

"Keeping eye on Gujarat riots, BJP decided to try missile scientist APJ Abdul Kalam. The suggestion of Kalam’s name by Mulayam Singh Yadav of Samajwadi Party – if that was really the truth as made out to be – was only a Godsend opportunity. Left parties felt ditched and People’s Front became a history. In the process, Kalam, won the race, with late Vice President Krishan Kant and Alexander forced to eat humble pie. Alexander has since gone to Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra as an independent member but not before being convinced that it was Congress and his religion Christianity those clipped his wings for flight to the Rashtrapati Bhawan."

Ends