Abdul Kalam: The Human

Dr Kalam is no more. I cannot imagine India without him. The outpouring by the entire nation has been absolutely unprecedented. Dr Kalam is being referred to as the Missile Man. I will leave aside the ‘missile’ part of it and write about the ‘man’ part of it, the ‘human’ part of it, especially as I have seen from my personal lens.

My first interaction with Dr Kalam was when I was a member of Scientific Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister in Rajiv Gandhi’s time.  This was in 1987-88.  I was given the responsibility of putting together a  draft of a perspective plan on the future of Indian Science & Technology. I needed to cover different issues of science & technology including Defense Research and Development.  I was trying to get hold of Dr Kalam but was unable to do so.  Finally, we accidentally sat together in a plane.  I still remember him profusely apologising for being inaccessible, explaining to me at great length as to how busy he was with his several projects. He asked me what was needed.  I explained.  He set aside whatever work he was doing  and pulled out a piece of paper, writing his thoughts on the subject  with his own hand. This very first meeting touched me, because I saw a man who was simple, very humane and yet professional at the same time. I was to realise his other qualities as I met him on several occasions later. 

I saw evidence of his extraordinary humility and willingness to learn from others in another instance.  I remember the year was 1992. I was then the Director of National Chemical Laboratory.  I got a phone call from Dr Kalam.

He was then the chief of Defence Research and Development Organization with a chain of more than 50 laboratories.  He told me that they were going to have a Directors’ conference in Pune and he wanted me to deliver the inaugural address.  I happily accepted the invitation and asked him as to what I should speak on.  India had just been liberalised in 1991, opening up its doors for trade with and investment from the rest of the world.  Dr Kalam suggested that I should speak on  ‘fighting it into the market place in the post liberalised era’.  He wanted me to talk about what Indian Science & Technology could do in this fight.  I remember addressing the gathering, which was chaired by Dr Kalam.  While beginning the lecture, I addressed him as ‘Mr Technology of India’.  I went on to dwell on the theme of India’s  big challenge in the coming years as we opened up.  My penchant for patents was well known then.  In 1989 itself, I had launched this ‘movement on patent literacy’ and put NCL on the path of becoming strong in patents, even licensing our patents to the advanced world. I referred to this issue of ‘patent literacy’ and said as to how this illiteracy had to be removed in order for India to face the stiff global competition.

After the lecture, there was a lunch.  Dr Kalam came to me and said “Mashelkar, you have addressed me as ‘‘Mr Technology of India’. You also talked about patent literacy movement.  But can I tell you that your ‘Mr Technology of India’ is also ‘Mr Patent Illiterate’ of India!” I asked him why he said that.  He replied that he had very little knowledge of patents, why they were important and asked what his organisation DRDO could do. I explained.  He immediately called someone and issued instructions to set up patent cells in each of the fifty plus DRDO laboratories.  Today, DRDO has become not only aware of patents but also strong on patents.  This simple instance actually shows on one hand the humility of the great man, where he was prepared to admit what he did not know, and at the same time  act so fast and decisively.  Both these qualities are so crucial for leaders.

Today when I look at CSIR, we find that there is a major transformation in the CSIR chain of 38 laboratories.  All this transformation by CSIR was possible due to a major initiative I took on the suggestion of Dr Kalam.  In fact, I vividly recollect 1 July 1995. This was the day when I took over as the Director General, CSIR.  We had a party in the evening.  Dr Kalam was also present at the party.  He congratulated me and asked me ‘Mashelkar, what is your vision for CSIR?’  He went into deep details and told me as to how crucial it was for me as a new leader to formally launch a vision statement, so that the entire CSIR family clearly understood what was on my mind.  I remember finally making a presentation to the Advisory Board of CSIR, of which Dr Kalam was also a member.  I remember his many valuable contributions.  This vision statement CSIR 2001 : Vision & Strategy became an epoch making statement and transformed CSIR. Today, the organisation has progressed to such a level that in a recent international book World Class in India, CSIR finds a place among the top organisations, who have managed the radical change best in the post liberalised era in India. Jayant Narlikar’s book The Scientific Edge lists the CSIR transformation as being among the ten best achievements of Indian science and technology in the twentieth century.

I found Dr Kalam to be an extremely warm-hearted and simple individual.  I have personally experienced his warmth and affection.  A very simple instance illustrates this.   I remember him calling me one day  at 11am in my office. He said that he had fixed up a meeting of the Knowledge Task Force set up the Prime Minister.  He and I were working together on the steering committee. 

I said that I would be unable to join him because I had to leave by the 4pm flight to Pune.  I explained to him that only that morning I had received a call from Pune saying that my wife was seriously ill. I desperately needed to be in Pune.  First things came first. I had dropped all my programmes and I was flying back with the first available  flight.  I was  so tense that I could not control myself and broke down on phone. Dr Kalam consoled me.  We ended the conversation.  After 15 minutes, I was surprised to see that Dr Kalam was there in my office, leaving a meeting that he was to chair! He spent an hour with me.  He came out as an extremely concerned and warm-hearted individual.

The author is a former Director General of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) and a fellow of the Royal Society, London
This is the first of a two-part series on late APJ Abdul Kalam. The concluding section will appear tomorrow