Bharat Ratna APJ Abdul Kalam brought blue revolution by heading integrated guided missile development program but very few know that he used to play Rudraveena at an ease.
There were many faces behind the missile man of India, a prolific poet, sensitive human being, a patriot Indian who always thought that unless my motherland becomes a nuclear Nation, it would not enjoy the respect in the league of Nations of the World and a humble man with a child-like curiosity who would play with kids at Rashtrapati Bhavan during morning walk forgetting that he is head of a state.
Bharat Ratna APJ Abdul Kalam brought blue revolution by heading integrated guided missile development program but very few know that he used to play Rudraveena at an ease. In one of his poems (in Tamil which has been translated in English) Kalam refers to Agni missile, the ICBM intercontinental ballistic missile which has a range of 2500 miles, as his son and writes, '`my parents were sad when I decided against marrying, they were worried as to their family name would not be continued but today when Agni has hit the target at 2500 Kms in sea, I am remembered of my parents. If they would have been alive, they would have been so happy to see that their grand-son (Agni) is so powerful.`
Kalam's brother and his family including his sons and grand-children visited Rashtrapati Bhavan in the last month of Kalam's tenure as President of India. Interestingly, Kalam ordered food for all the family members from outside and neither he used President's kitchen nor he paid the bills from Rashtrapati Bhavan accounts. He himself made the payment from his salary and showed an example of probity in public life.
Kalam during his morning walk found an injured peacock in the Rashtrapati Bhavan gardens and it was Kalam who picked up the peacock in his own hands and took it to doctors for treatment. Right from the days of a scientist, Kalam always stayed in single officer's quarter which is comparatively small despite the fact that he later became scientific advisor to defence Minister.
Dr S K Salvan, the former director of ARDE (Armament Research and Development Establishment) had narrated an anecdote about Kalam. A scientist who got transferred to Orisa at Missile site and could not concentrate on work for 3-4 days had seen different Kalam. Kalam went to the scientist's room and asked him as to why was he not able to concentrate on work. When he told that his son was bed-ridden in Mumbai and phone call could not get through for last 3-4 days, it was Kalam who himself told operator to connet it to Mumbai. Kalam talked to scientist's son and wife as well as made the scientist to speak to his family members. The scientis was in tears when Kalam told him, ``look, even one person at the missile site can't concentrate on work, the entire program which is ambitious for the country could fail. What are we doing here if our family members are not well? Henceforth, feel free to tell me if anything is wrong, be it personal or otherwise.''
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