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SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015 DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU daily Col J P Singh, Retd to assert India's place as a future superpower. After leaving office, Dr. Kalam became a vis- udden demise of former President took the iting professor at IIM Shillong, Ahmedabad & Excelsior nation by surprise. It was shocking because Established 1965 Tribute to People's President Indore, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, he was the most popular President of all, S pride rose sky high. Fear of superiors vanished hours with books especially in mathematics. His Indian Institute of Space Science and Technolo- called People's President. It was surprising Founder Editor S.D. Rohmetra from my mind altogether. Having gone through class fellows say that while they would play, he gy Thiruvanthapuram and an adjunct at many because he was hale and hearty till the fateful other academic and research institutions across moment of 27 July 2015 evening. He had started great moments with a great man, I wish to advise would read and read. After completing High my younger generation friends not to be scarred School, Kalam went to Saint Joseph's College India. He taught information technology at IIT, delivering his lecture at IIM Shillong when he Hyderabad, BHU and Anna University, Chennai. Polluting Jammu canals collapsed leaving the nation orphaned. of any perceived big, powerful and mighty peo- Tiruchirappalli from where he graduated in ater is a precious commodity being one of ple. Rest assured, they are all like Dr. Kalam. Physics in 1954 and joined aerospace engineer- In May 2012, Kalam launched a programme On 10th June 2002, Prime Minister Vajpayee for the youth of India called 'What Can I Give to the four most important elements for proposed his name for Presidentship. Dr. Kalam Whenever you get an opportunity, must meet and ing in 1955 at Madras. While Kalam was work- talk to them. That will add to your confidence and ing on a project, the Dean was dissatisfied with the Movement', with a central theme of defeat- human existence. India is a country, which was elected 11th (non political) President of India W in 2002, purely on merit, with the support of rul- give them happiness. Moreover when you go for lack of progress and threatened to revoke his ing corruption. He firmly believed that only the draws benefit from the Himalayas. Vast Indian ing, opposition and all national and regional par- an interview, don't be worried about the status and scholarship unless the project was finished with- children (daughters mainly) can force corrupt plains stretch over its foothills and the mighty rivers ties except CPM. He won with 9,22,884 votes. superiority of examiners because they are all like in three days. Kalam met the deadline. parents, with love as instrument', to give it up Dr. Kalam and there to help you to realise Impressed, the Dean told him that he was and can act as catalysts for corruption free India. flow down from its glaciers that are the lifeline of the His opponent Capt (INA) Lakshmi Sehgal of CPM got 1,07,366 votes. He was President from your dreams by selecting and giv- intentionally putting him under In 2011, a Hindi film was made on him, 'I am people of the Indian sub-continent. We in the State 25 July 2002 to 25 July 2007. ing you a chance. Just give stress to see his potential. Kalam' showing how Dr. Kalam influences a of Jammu and Kashmir are among most fortunate After serving a term of five years, he returned them an opportunity of Kalam wanted to be a poor but brilliant Rajasthani boy named Chhotu to teaching, writing and social service. He interviewing you. When 'Fighter Pilot' but narrow- and becomes his idol. Chhotu renames himself people in the country to be in possession of peren- received several prestigious awards, including I asked Gen Reddy the ly missed achieving his 'Kalam' in honour of his idolatry hero. nial waters of five rivers flowing through our territo- India's highest civilian honour, the BHARAT purpose of meeting, dream. He took the In his book India 2020, Dr. Kalam strongly he said, "I request- failure seriously but ry and supplying us with water for drinking and irri- RATNA. His extraodrinary success is an amaz- advocated a five point action plan to develop ing story of an ordinary Indian. ed him for job for motivated by teach- India into a knowledge superpower and devel- gation purposes. I am deeply pained, like others, because I too my ex boss to ers, he joined oped nation which included agriculture, food which he instan- DRDO where he In the Jammu region, we have the Chenab and was one of the lucky ones who met him for a short processing, education, healthcare, information & while in Delhi. In February 2001, I was accom- taneously served as Scientist Ravi rivers flowing through the territory of our state. agreed" Enquir- and Scientist communication technology, quality electric panying Lt Gen ARK Reddy, Chief of Staff, power, surface transport, infrastructure and self- Besides we have smaller rivers as well of which Northern Command to Army HQs when General ing how he Administrator. On knew him so one's dreams, Dr. reliance in critical technologies. Tawi is the largest skirting the hillock on which met him. Asking me to wait in PA's office, Gen- Kalam set a target of interacting with million eral went to his office. After sometime Gen Red- well, General Kalam would tell Jammu city is perched? Two major canals of told me that his the students, students which he far exceeded as President. He dy called me and I saw him walking with Dr. felt comfortable in the company of young peo- Jammu, the first Ranbir Canal is drawing water from Kalam in the corridor. I followed them stealthily. brother, 'Scientist "Dream is not the F' and Dr. Kalam one you see while ple, particularly high school students. "I intend the Chenab and second Tawi Canal draws water When they turned back I saluted. Dr. Kalam to share with them my experiences, helping them inquisitively looked at me as if I was looking for had been together in sleeping. Dream is from Tawi River. Both of these canals are vital for ISRO and DRDO. what does not let you to ignite their imagination and preparing them to something. Gen Reddy told him that I was his work for a developed India", he would say. Stu- irrigation purposes because large agricultural activ- Staff Officer and accompanying him. "Where Till then I only knew sleep". He later joined him as Pokhran hero, Indian Space and Research dents would ask him questions like class teacher ity in Jammu depends on the water resource of were you, why didn't you come in". While I was which he used to answer likewise. He would tell short of words, General came to my rescue say- great scientist, a missile man Organisation (ISRO) where he these two canals. In fact, these are the lifeline of and Bharat Ratna. I could not was intimately involved in India's them, "If you want to shine like sun, burn like ing, "since it was a short courtesy call I left him sun". None else could be more inspiring for Jammu agricultural activities and thousands of fam- with the PA". Seeing BIHAR on my shoulders, imagine he was so helpful, inspiring, civilian space program and 'military mis- humble, respectful and accessible. No wonder sile development'. He thus came to be known as youths. Hence students' loss is irreparable. Let ilies depend on the water from thee canals to irri- he asked, which part of Bihar? I told him that I us resolve to work tirelessly to make India a was from J&K. Gen Reddy told him that I was in such a great man had to be the President of India the 'Missile Man of India' for his work in the gate their farms. as 'People's President'. development of ballistic missile and launch vehi- developed nation (his dream) by 2020. That BIHAR Regt from North like him from South. He would be the most befitting tribute to him. Since It is sad to say that despite a clear understanding softly said okay, okay, repeatedly. He asked me Dr. Kalam was born in Rameshwaram to a cle technology. poor Tamil Family. His father's name was Jain- Dr. Kalam served as Chief Scientific Advisor he had desired no holiday on his death and want- that the law of the land prohibits polluting the water how the J&K was? I told him that it was getting ed us to work extra on that day instead, inspired better. While taking leave, he told me to come to ulabudeen, a boat repairer and his mother to the Prime Minister and Secretary of DRDO body, there is large-scale pollution of both of these Ashiamma was a housewife. Since he came from from July 1992 to December 1999. The Pokhran me to write this tribute to the greatest son of the his office next time when in Delhi. These few soil the same day. "we can shape our lives canals a little by the nature but mostly by human moments and words left a lasting impression in a poor background, he started working at an ear- II Nuclear tests were conducted during this peri- ly age to supplement his father's income. After od in which he played an intensive political and through will, persistence, ability and sheer beings. About nature, a number of nullahs flow into my mind.

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