The most important letter I ever wrote

“Professor Sharmaji, I shall be in Dehradun on the 28th. Can I have a vegetarian lunch with you?” Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was on the line. That morning, I am sure, it was not an April fools day.

After retiring from the top post of Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, Kalam had taken up a professorial post at the Anna University, Chennai. I wanted Kalam to help organize the Science-Technology Commission for the newly created state of the Uttaranchal.

“If Dr. Kalam is coming on the 28th, we can have opening on that day”. Nirmala had planned opening a children’s nursery “Shishu Chetna Kendra” for the poor village kids on 1st May. On the D-Day, the 28th April 2001, Bharat Ratna did formally open the village nursery and had a simple vege. meal with us at home.

Awaiting the arrival of Kalam, there was all around great excitement in our village. Official security arrangements were in place. All sorts of security and intelligence men were making enquiries and searches of our house and the neighborhood. Roads and streets in the area were cleared. An official sniffer dog squads visited our area and in the morning the food sampling was held of the vege meals.

During all the excitement, my creative mind was activated overtime. In the early hour of the 28th, I had had a brain wave: Kalam should be our next President. The idea was never discussed with Kalam, nor had I asked his opinion, nor had I sought his consent. I drafted the proposal and sent to the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Leader of the Opposition Mrs. Sonia Gandhi.

In April 2002, India Today published a special issue with half-a-dozen photographs of aspirant political leaders for the presidency. I was disappointed with the names published in the magazine. I revived my year old letter and again Speed Posted to the Prime Minister and to the Leader of the Opposition, and a select group of 30 Members of Parliament of major parties, including George Fernandes, Pramod Mahajan, Arun Jaitlay, Jaswant Singh, Vasundhara Raje, Jag Mohan and Arun Shouri. At the critical hours, I was happy to learn, Atalji remembered my proposal and phoned Dr. Kalam at Chennai. Rest is the history.

The text of the letter is……..

First: 28 April 2001
Second: 29 April 2002

SUBJ: DR. APJ ABDUL KALAM FOR PRESIDENT

Dr. Kalam is a scientist of high calibre who enjoys credentials and commitment to take up the nation to the scientific 21st Century.

A “Scientist Sage.” Kalam is Mr. Clean and is the most popular and respected science administrator in the country. He comes from a religious muslim family with close friendship with Shastri family of the chief priest of Rameshwaram temple. A child prodigy of a fisherman of Rameshwaram the most southern end of India, Dr. Kalam achieved the highest honour “Bharat Ratna” with his hardwork and dedication to Science, Missile Research and Rocketry. He has taken the country to the Space Age.

A true believer in Secularism and Democracy, Kalam represents our national commitment to ‘Unity in Diversity’. A vegetarian and teetotaler he is a Veena maestro and a poet of some achievement.

Dr. Abdul Kalam is the worthy son of Mother India to be our next President. I request you to propose Kalam’s name for the presidency of the Republic.

With personal regards,

Sincerely,


Dhirendra Sharma
Editor: PHILOSOPHY & SOCIAL ACTION (Qty).

SENT TO:

Pramod Mahajan, MP
Vasundhara Raje, MP
George Fernandes, MP
Omar Abdullah, MP
Arif Mohamed Khan, MP
P.M. Sayeed, MP
K. Naidu, MP
Atal Behari Vajpayee, PM

Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opp.
Jagmohan, MP