Dr. Kalam's visit

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam visited my office this week. In anticipation of the visit. I was as excited as one would be to meet his favourite cricket or Bollywood star. It turned out that I was not the only one.
A role model for the nation, Dr. Kalam is, rightfully, credited with raising the stature of the position of the President of India while bringing the presidency closer to the people- things which had not happened in the 52 years of the Republic prior to his taking over.
Dr. Kalam spoke on the importance of technology and R&D in a nation's development especially that of a developing nation. He was in his elements when describing technically his experience in R&D and contextualizing with the inauguration of the R&D lab.

Then he fielded Questions with a child-like elan, interspersing every sentence with 'ok'. "We have a Mission to be a Developed Nation by 2020. ok? To achieve this we have 3 Projects. ok ?"

The child-like enthusiasm, the inspirational eyes, the infectious optimism make the man. If Gandhi ( Mahatma, i.e) was the Indian of the Century in the 20th century, Dr. Kalam will probably be hailed as the India of the 21st Century.

Not for launching satellites, not for testing guided missiles, certainly not for Pokhran. But for igniting passion into youth, making patriotism less jingoistic more fashionable, for adding altruism to public life but most of all for inspiring a billion people.

Salaam Dr. Kalam