No 2nd thought, Kalam first among First Citizens

SETTING A PRECEDENT: Panelists debate if Kalam outdid his predecessors in terms of popularity.

        

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Suhasini Haidar

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New Delhi: India's 11th president A P J Abdul Kalam packed his bags to leave Raisina Hill on Wednesday.

Hailed as the true people’s President, Kalam – in a moving farewell message – said he has had “no regrets” whatsoever during his five-year tenure as the country’s first citizen.

Avul Pakir Jainalabideen Abdul Kalam resided not just in the building called Rashtrapati Bhavan, but also in the hearts of millions of Indians.

Known for breaking the “rubber stamp” stereotype, Kalam was revered as someone who transformed India's Presidency into an institution.

So, is Kalam the best Indian President ever? Y S Rajan, eminent Scientist & co-author of the book India 2020 with Dr Abdul Kalam, Pratap Bhanu Mehta, President & Chief Executive, Centre for Policy Research, Smita Gupta, Political Editor, Outlook debated that on CNN-IBN show Face the Nation.

Was Kalam the best President ever?

Kalam was the political President in the best sense of the term, for he kept the common people in mind, says Pratap Bhanu Mehta, President & Chief Executive, Centre for Policy Research in an article.

However, Kalam’s worst critics argue that the hype around him is purely a media-created. They say that Kalam gained popularity simply because was there in the right place and at the right time.

Is the whole concept of ‘the people’s president’ disillusionment? “No,” said Pratap Bhanu Mehta.

“A lot of people have been there in the right place and at the right time, and yet they did all the wrong things. Kalam’s presidency might not have been perfect from a constitutional point of view. But his capacity to embody people’s aspirations, cut across barriers of caste, region, class and religion and embody the hopes of rising India and yet put in a word for those who are being left behind in all the symbolic aspects—was absolutely extraordinary,” he added.

Kalam was a symbolic president who embodies the aspirations of rising India. He is a vegetarian, prefers long walks to keep fit and loves to read. “Kalam faced an injury in his hand sometime back. Even then, he continued with his everyday walks. He keeps himself busy all the time to ward off unnecessary worries, “ said Y S Rajan, eminent Scientist & co-author of the book India 2020.

Constitutional Awareness

Kalam’s decision to dissolve Bihar assembly in 2005 invited severe criticism. Several questions were raised over his lack of political experience. But the very same president also vehemently supported allowing Vir Savarkar’s portrait to be put up in the central hall in the Parliament.