Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, The Man I Knew: Dinesh Trivedi

Former Union Minister Dinesh Trivedi recalls his association with Dr Kalam as a mentor one could always look up to.

It was a transition of sorts for Dr Kalam as he moved on from the role of a scientist to that of president. (Photo: Reuters)

On the first death anniversary of India’s Rocket Man Dr APJ Abdul, we at The Quint fondly remember our beloved scientist President. This article has been reposted from our archives.

In July 2002, just before Dr. Kalam was to become the 11th President of India, there was a get-together at the then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s residence to introduce Dr. Kalam to leaders of the NDA. Mamata Banerjee had suggested that I should be present there so I did join that dinner. Most of the leaders of NDA attended this dinner. We all were formally introduced to Dr. Kalam.

Although Dr. Kalam’s name as a scientist was known to all of us, this was my first official meeting with him. I distinctly remember that Kalam Sahab was not as much at ease as we saw him later during his tenure as President. In fact, he gave an impression of being a little out of place, and did not talk much. He was in his trademark blue shirt and grey trousers, standing in a corner by himself. It was an informal occasion and he spoke only when he was asked a question or someone exchanged pleasantries. Frankly, there was not much of a common ground between the political fraternity and the scientist Dr. Abdul Kalam. But yes, most of us were impressed with his simplicity and the dignity with which he conducted himself, making sure he did not speak anything that was not politically correct.

Man With A Mission

It is indeed difficult to comprehend that Dr. Abdul Kalam is no longer physically with us, but his thoughts have become immortal. After he became President of India, I kept in touch with him. Once in a while I would go to meet up with him and we would have a cup of tea and discuss issues related to the country.

People take pictures of a portrait of Kalam, at his school in Rameswaram, July 30, 2015. (Photo: Reuters)

I saw Dr. Kalam taking to the office of the President like a fish takes to water. Whenever we met him at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, he would always engage us in some presentation or the other on topics related to basic issues concerning the country; be it water, hunger or education. We could see a man with a mission, with limited time at his disposal, and who wanted to make the best of it. He never gave the impression that he was the President of India, the Supreme Commander of our Armed Forces. Instead, he always was comfortable in the role of a professor, a teacher, and that was what he liked. There was never a discussion of politics.

Political Acumen

Besides my several official and informal meetings, I do recall two very important meetings with Dr. Kalam. In December 2006, when Mamata Banerjee was on a fast unto death for 25 days, on the land issue related to Singur, I had taken a delegation of senior leaders of NDA to Dr. Kalam. I apprised him of the situation and mentioned that the doctors attending to Mamata Banerjee were worried about her health and had advised that she should give up her fast, otherwise it could become a critical health issue.

Dr. Kalam was very much concerned about this and told me to appeal to her on his behalf to give up the hunger strike and also suggested that we should call an all-party meeting for the same. Sushmaji, who accompanied the delegation, told him that Mamataji needed to live to fight the next democratic battle for the country.

It was this appeal of President Kalam and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee which helped us convince Mamata Banerjee to give up her hunger protest, which she gave up on the night of 28th December 2006 when I took a late evening flight from Delhi to Kolkata and went straight from the airport to the site where Mamata Banerjee was sitting on the hunger strike in Chowringhee area. She respected the appeals of both the senior statesmen and we convinced her to give up the hunger strike.

What if Kalam was PM?

The second episode was equally important and historical. This was at 10, Rajaji Marg, his official residence after he demitted the office of president and I had resigned as the Railway Minister, sometime in the year 2012, when corruption became a national issue and media highlighted the same. The issues related to Coalgate, 2G etc. were prominent. I remember, one evening I called him up and said that I wanted to have a cup of tea with him and discuss the situation prevailing in the country. He was kind enough to immediately give me an appointment and as usual, when I went there he was working on his next lecture programme somewhere in the country. He also laughingly mentioned that he had perhaps become busier than when he was the President.

I showed my concern about the unrest among people regarding corruption, etc. and requested him to spearhead a people’s movement against corruption. Before speaking to him about the subject, I had already spoken to a few eminent persons, both within and outside the political system. Each one of us was looking for a credible personality in the country, who could lead such a movement. We also had no doubt that if this movement became successful, then Dr. Kalam could become the next Prime Minister of India in 2014. This was before the Anna-Kejriwal movement came to the fore.

The portrait of APJ Abdul Kalam (R) along with India’s freedom fighters at Ramlila grounds, August 2012. (Photo: Reuters)

Dr. Kalam shared my concern and asked me who all were involved in this movement. I gave him a list of some of the eminent people who were also very close to Dr. Kalam. He agreed to consider it and also mentioned that he would be talking to others. He did speak to some of the people I had named but mentioned that perhaps he was not as young as he would have liked to spearhead such movements.

We were all very happy. Subsequently we had meetings among ourselves, but unfortunately, we never followed up the way we should have. Maybe history would have been different had we followed up on the same. I have no doubt Kalam Sahab would have made a perfect Prime Minister.

We have many politicians in the country but very few statesmen. Dr. Kalam will always stand out as a statesman in recent times. My tribute to this great son of India, who has ‘ignited’ many a mind and whose work will continue to influence people across the globe.

(The writer is Lok Sabha MP, Trinamool Congress and Former Railway Minister.)