Courtesy:M S Sachdev
ASSET OWNED BY GREAT AND NOBLE MAN.
INTERESTING MESSAGES. MUST READ.
Hi All,
An article in Yahoo on the assets owned by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
I don't know what to say. Great.
Gomu
APJ Abdul Kalam has left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds
of Indians in a manner few other public figures have in recent memory. In death
he achieved the kind of acclaim in people's hearts that politicians covet but
may never come close to attaining.
In material terms, the "People's President", it now
transpires, owned precious little, save his 2,500 books, a wrist watch, six
shirts, four trousers, three suits and a pair of shoes. Kalam did not own any
property nor a fridge, TV, car or an air conditioner. This for a man who spent
over five decades in public service, including his stint as President of the
Republic.
He did not die in penury, but neither did he live a life of
luxury. He survived on the royalty from his books - he authored four of them -
and his pension. The exact amount of his life savings is not known. "It
wasn't much to write home about," said Sheridan, his secretary for over
two decades.
After he demitted office, the government allotted him a bungalow
at 10 Rajaji Marg. The two-storey house lies desolate today but tales of his
integrity are still alive. He was firm about not receiving any personal gifts
and ensured that all personal gifts were duly tabulated and sent to the
government's toshakhana.
"He would never accept a gift, save a book, and whenever
somebody brought him a packed gift and tried to pass it off as a book, he
insisted on examining what was inside. Anything other than the book was
politely returned," says his former media advisor SM Khan.
Kalam's love for technology is well known and he kept himself
abreast of the latest developments mainly through radio. "He did not have
a television set in his living quarters. He got his news either from radio or
newspapers. The only TV set at his Rajaji Marg residence was used by his staff,"
Khan said.
Khan recalled how the former President revered his elder brother,
who is 99 years old. Kalam held his elder brother APJ Marakia in great esteem
and was full of plans to celebrate his brother's 100th birthday next year.
"One of the things that gave him (Kalam) immense joy was when he helped
his brother get access to 24-hour power supply by installing a solar panel at
their ancestral home," says Sheridan, adding, "President Kalam would
always call him (his brother) before leaving or returning from an important
lecture assignment. He had called him the day before leaving for
Shillong."
"The lives of great men remind us, we can make our lives
sublime, and, departing, leave behind us, footprints on the sands of
time." Former president APJ Abdul Kalam wasn't around when Wordsworth
wrote these lines. Had both the men belonged to the same age then these lines
would have surely been written for Kalam.
Mr. GOMATHI NAYAGAM.
