A Small Tribute To An Immortal Leader - Dr.Apj Kalam
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
27 july 2015 is the day which made me realise the loss of an impeccable humanbeing,I was there in Chennai for my vacation that time.When the news about Kalam sir’s death hit my ears ,my heart sunk ready for tears.Until that day, I just knew him as a former President,a Missile man and a honest leader ,but later i realised he is just not a person in our memory to be erased rather a person in our heart to be praised forever.
I had no idea why I was so upset ,but seeing other’s reaction made me feel that It’s not just me, the whole nation is mourning and is deeply moved by the loss a of the great soul.My parents,neighbours,watchman and even the paper man all were outpouring there griefs and sharing their view about the legend.
The incident my grandfather told made me understand why kalam sir was known for his simplicity and humility. My grandfather said while he was posted to Ramnad he was given a room to stay and he noticed that ac was not there in the room despite of the provision given.He called and asked the concerned authority about it ,and that person told that while Kalam sir had stayed in that room during his previous visit ,he had requested them to take away the ac stating that he loves to live with nature and that the climate is not new to him.I could see the pride in the eyes of my grand father who proudly said that he had stayed in the room where the great legend had stayed.
That day was a new experience to me as everyone had a story to be told and experience to be shared.I met an autodriver,while i was on my way to my house.The autodriver too had a an emotional story about kalam sir.The driver said that while he was in Rameshwaram he had been driving often for Kalam sir it seems and that kalam sir would always ask him about his son’s education and would advice him to make him study well and tell him how important is his studies for his future and for country’s too.
On 30th was Kalam sir’s cremation in Rameshawaram with full state honours.My neighbour’s family went to Rameshwaram to watch the last rite ceremony of the former president.All were before tv watching the live telecast of the ceremony.
I went with my grandma to the near by temple.While we were returning from the temple we had to take an alternate path other than the usual path as there was some meeting held and the road was blocked.We always used to avoid walking via the alternate path as it stinks a lot due to garbage disposal.To all our surprise we noticed that the place where garbages were dumped has been beautifully transformed into a divine place with red carpet at the entrance leading to a big size photo of Abdul Kalam sir.A gentle man invited us to come in and light a candle ,offer flowers to the photo and write a few words about the great legend.I was happy to get this oppurtunity I went in offered flowers and lit the candle.I asked the gentleman whether it was organised by any association ,he said he and his friends are doing it as a tribute to the great leader.While I was about to write my note about the legend I could see a very small boy who couldn’t even reach to the height of the table where the book had been kept,trying to write something.He despite ignoring his mother shout at him to get down,was scribbling in the notebook.I was thinking whatall to write and while I started to write,I just could see the scribbled note above.It was the cute note to Kalam sir from that small boy.I would like to share the note of the boy"Dear Kalam uncle,I promise you I won’t use bad words ,I won’t fight with my brother or anyone ,I will be a goodboy to my mother and will try to get good marks in all subject.I want to become a scientist like you,I love you and I miss u"-Ashwath 1 st std.There were lots of spelling mistakes but I felt that it was the cutest , inspirational and touching note I could see in that notebook.Really I saw Abdul Kalam sir in that innocent face of the small boy who wrote his heart for his leader.
who said Abdul Kalam sir is no where ,he is everywhere and remains immortal in the hearts of millions of people .
" Our birth may be an incident
but our death should be a history"- APJ.Abdul Kalam
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