26 Jul 2007

Bye Bye President Kalam

So many titles given to Dr. Kalam by the people and by the media. Does he really deserve all the titles that have been bestowed upon him !

A look into what is rightfully his and what's not. Based on the facts.

Chacha Kalam: A title given to the outgoing president by the media in the last week of his office truly symbolizes the eulogy thrust upon the person media hypes for its own TRPs. I never heard of reports where people on their own called him Chacha Kalam. Did we miss something! Was it the media which likened his emphasis on making the children of today into the achievers of tomorrow to Pt. Nehru's popular love for the children!

Rocket Scientist:
In fact Dr. Kalam is an aeronautical engineer. He has been a scientific manager. We usually speak loudly what we want to hear.

People's President:
Now this one is the one I agree with. Whatever the reason. His credentials, his disinclination from politics, his egalitarianism, his appeal to the masses as an ascetic or something else, he has undoubtedly been loved by the country. He, accompanied by former Uttaranchal CM N D Tiwari, came to the convocation function of my institute when I was in third year. And I remember our entire hostel standing on the hostel wall and the 3rd floor corridors to catch a glimpse of him (which we couldn't) through the dark window panes of his car. On the other hand when in the next car CM N D Tiwari waved his hand to us, to his embarrassment, we all pointed at him and laughed aloud. Such was the difference of stature. By shunning the presidential protocols at times Dr. Kalam struck a chord with the masses.

A great visionary:
In this I agree with his critics that his vision is not a very practical one and the details have been phrased in a rather simplified manner in his books. This lack of practicality and depth of analysis of real time problems in achieving this dream of India 2020 doesn't suit the kind of great visionary and scientific stature we have thrust upon him.

A great Scientist:
Now who do we call a great scientist? Has our definition of a great scientist become so narrow! With thousands of outstanding Ph.D.s across the world researching in science, the category of 'Great Scientist' suits at least those who win the Nobel prize when this prize is given in various fields of science every year ! At least those who truly innovate. Whereas his contributions to the Indian defense are enormous and highly appreciable in a climate of total incapability, I doubt if his accomplishments match the standards of a 'great' scientist.

But in the end,
I credit him for his tremendous popularity and for his contribution to the nation as a president in the sense that he truly upped the ante of performance for the common man who so easily identified with him. It was because of this that people debated this time if Narayan Murthy should be our next President. He achievements exemplified and showed the masses that we can also think big. That dreaming and thinking big is the key to achieving success and greatness. Today many many more people believe in the possibility of a developed India by 2020 than could 5 years ago.

Hats off to you The People's President! We love you!

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