“If you want to shine like a sun, then burn like sun” – the exemplar, Mr. APJ Abdul Kalam truly lived his own words. The former President was not born with a ‘silver spoon’ in his mouth; yet he was born with a great ‘incentive spoon’ which drove him to the crest of the wave.

A lad eked out a living by selling newspapers and today news and obituaries of the same fellow have occupied the newspapers! Ironical. Isn’t it? The hapless newspaper vendor rose like the Phoenix from the abyss of poverty to the pinnacle of success and demonstrated the world that if you have strong determination, colossal dreams and the strength and will to achieve them, then no soul can clip your wings. The dreamer and the visionary carved his own destiny from very humble origins to the summit which was not a low hanging fruit.

In the fictitious world of the novel “A Woman of Substance”, a bildungsroman by Barbara Taylor Bradford, Emma Harte was born to an impoverished Yorkshire family who rose from rags to riches; from servant girl to become one of the richest women in the world. It was only her unshakable faith and implacable will power to achieve something that made her unbolt the portals of success. The phrase - nothing succeeds like success –seems apt for the protagonist.

Anyway, before I digress all the way off the cliff, let me get to the point. I recall Einstein’s words about Gandhi ji and further dedicate them to Kamaal Kalam ji, “Generations to come will scarce believe that such man ever walked upon this Earth.” The news of the demise of the Missile Man was bolt from the blue to millions. A pall of gloom enshrouded the territory. Bharat has lost a ‘Ratna’ ; the Ratna who radiated light throughout his life and would continue to do so, enabling the posterity to bask in his goodness!

People remember Mr. Kalam as their former President, scientist, writer etc., but for me he was a complete teacher. The sweetheart of students , he was rightly hailed the People’s President. In fact, the great man once said, “If people remember me as a good teacher that will be the biggest honour for me.” Perhaps, his one of the last wishes would have been to breathe his last while teaching and it did fulfill. Dr. Kalam never compromised on his penchant for teaching. He repeatedly urged the kids to never hesitate asking questions. In fact, while running short of time, he could not take doubts from all students on his visits to various educational institutions. But he made sure to give his e-mail id to them and responding to their e-mails in a couple of days. He had amalgamated the honesty of a child with the energy of a teenager and the maturity of an adult. A mourner said , “He had a childlike curiosity and wisdom of a sage.”   In truth, Kalam ji was neither a Muslim nor Hindu; he was a learner with a down-to-earth approach.

Few lines directly from the heart for the nation’s great son:

“Chamka jahan mein tu bankar atal sitara,

Ae Kalam tujhsa hoga nahi dobara…”

KALAM KO SALAAM !

JAI HIND…