An ode to Dr Kalam

Former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam passed away on July 27 last year. On his first death anniversary on Wednesday, professors from the city recount their privileged interaction with the ‘Missile Man’ and pay tributes to him

The idol of many, former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam passed away on July 27 last year. Having inspired the lives of children and adults alike, it was quite tragic a situation on his first death anniversary with a lukewarm to cold remembrance from both the government and private institutions on Wednesday.

Having said that, the ‘Missile Man’ remains alive in the hearts of the teaching community and students, towards whom Dr Kalam had a special fondness; he wanted to be remembered as a teacher as well.

“He was an amazing guy and a good friend of mine. We studies at the same university,” recollects Hariharan, Director of Mahindra École Centrale, Jeedimetla. “He was truly an educationalist for the people, especially for the poor. Dr Kalam used to come to my college and encourage students here.

As far as we are concerned, we are trying to follow his leadership and teaching methods. His standards are very high and it’s of course difficult to reach there. But, we are trying,” he says.

Commenting on Kalam’s teaching methodology, Piyush Jain, Head of Public Relation Cell at IIM, Shillong shares, “Yes, I think that some people are following his leadership qualities and teaching methods. I won’t be able to speak on behalf of the youth in general but,

students of Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Shillong are definitely inspired and positively motivated to follow his qualities be it that of a leader or a teacher.”

“As a matter of fact, we have already started walking down this path by means of some initiatives that we have taken from last year. For instance, ‘Nurturing Minds’ where we teach underprivileged students from different schools of Shillong as an initiative in the memory of Dr Kalam.

We carry out book donations and we started the ‘Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Lecture series’, which is a one-week initiation course on sustainability, which all of us have to undergo,” he informs.

IIM, Shillong is where the ‘People’s President’ breathed his last while delivering a lecture on the topic ‘Making a Liveable Planet Earth’. Piyush says, “We will strive to work towards this and contribute positively to the society and environment in which we live.”

Echoing the sentiments is another teacher, Prof. Veeramani of Mechanical Department at St. Martin’s Engineering College, Secunderabad who says, “Dr APJ Abdul Kalam is my role model. He did great things for India and is one of the best teachers I have known. I am honoured to have had the opportunity to interact with him when he visited our college.

I remember he advised students on following their dreams and making India a developed country by 2020.” “As he used to say ‘the student community is the best one, which can uplift India to that level’ and this is the right time to contribute towards that,” opined the professor.

“I received my Doctorate from his hand at Osmania University and that day he made us take a pledge that we would not take bribes and do good things for society and students,” recounts Dean of Administration at Loyola Degree College, Secunderabad, Dr Maria Das. Quoting the former President, Prof. Laxminarayana from Osmania University says, “All birds find shelter during rain.

But, eagle avoids rain by flying above the clouds.’ Dr Kalam was an eagle who knew how to fly above the sky. From being a newspaper distributer to scientist and then India’s President; his was a prosperous journey. Because of him today we are using latest technology. The student community and adults alike must never forget him” he says.

By Rashmi Kumari