#MyKalam

Today, July 27, is the second death anniversary of President APJ Abdul Kalam. A man who inspired millions by his life and deeds. When Dr. Kalam passed away in 2015, I remember numerous posts on FB where people spoke a personal connect with the People’s President. This is unprecedented in India – at least to me. Two years later, I feel like sharing my own personal connect with President Kalam. An opportunity to host President Kalam left an indelible mark in my life – one that stays with me on my person as well!

It was July 12, 2002. I got a call from my Chairman, R Chenraj Jain, that we may have an outside chance of hosting Dr. Kalam and that I have to speak to one Sheridon and was given a Delhi phone number. I spoke with Sheridon who in a calm voice said if we would be prepared to host President Kalam for an interactive session with students of Jain Vidyaniketan (a school for kids from the underprivileged that we were running in Jakkasandra, Bengaluru Rural District) two days later. I almost choked. It was Friday morning and we had less than 48 hours to make all arrangements. The best part was yet to come. Sheridon added that he will only be able to confirm later in the evening. We went into an overdrive. Here was an opportunity to host Dr. Kalam who was on his way to Delhi from Chennai on the eve of the Presidential Elections on July 15. Things would change from there onwards and we were not sure if we would get the opportunity again in the near future. My team (God bless them!) and I went ballistic and started preparing for the visit in right earnest. Even the local cops were not aware and I remember receiving a call from Police Commissioner Revannasiddaiah enquiring if news reports of his visit to our college were indeed true. They had no intimation yet. We had to bus these 300 kids from their villages to our campus in Bengaluru. A lot of people wanted to be in the room and not miss out on the opportunity. Space constraints, security arrangements, managing expectations, adherence to protocol etc.. On Saturday evening, my Chairman and I went to meet Dr. Kalam at the airport. He was staying with Dr. Kota Harinarayan (ADE / LCA Project Director) at the ADE guest house. We drove with him to the guest house. Dr. Kalam wanted to speak with the organisers of his event and I was promptly fielded. Enthusiastic (and a tad bit nervous) that I was, I just prayed that I would not goof up. He was crystal clear in his instructions – “I do not want a stage. Have you seen a revolving chair with wheels? Yes? I want one of those. I want the chair to be at the centre and surrounded by children. No one should be between me and the students. Is that clear? Also, no media. Clear?” I nodded my head in affirmation and made quick mental notes. We worked through the night and it was well past 2 am when we left office. Those were pre-Uber days and since we could not get an auto, I offered to drop two of my colleagues home even though they were not exactly on my way home. I wanted them to get some rest and be back at 8 am. After dropping one of them, my car met with a bad accident. Quite bad. I was wearing a seatbelt and sustained injuries on my head and my left hand. My friend Subba in the passenger seat broke (almost) his nose. We went to the Police Station first and then to a hospital. Glass pieces from the windshield had gotten into my forehead and my left middle finger and palm. Long story short, I got back to office at 8 am and given my head injury and the dressing, I remained in the background. The event was a success. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/…/articlesh…/15997633.cms

Several days later, the wounds healed slowly but there is a prominent mark on my left middle finger even to this day. I look at it and am reminded of that eventful day and my rendezvous with President Kalam. Like I said earlier, this is #MyKalam story. I am sure you have yours too.

?? to the man who raised the aspirations of a billion Indians throughout his life.