My Tryst With Destiny -Meeting The Great APJ Kalam !!

How many of us meet someone who is identified with a project –someone who gave birth to putting a rocket into space ?How many of us meet someone who is the ex President of India ?And how many of us meet the “Bharat Ratna”.?The answer to the above questions is –very few .And if I ask the next question which is –how many of us are invited on stage to meet him ,touch his feet and shake hands with him ,talk to him and being photographed by hundreds of cameramen ,then the answer is –only the chosen ones .!!

I had the great privilege of meeting the ex President of India Dr Abdul Kalam ,the other day at the prestigious Rajpath  Club at Ahmedabad .I was invited to be witness to the YUVA prize giving ceremony .YUVA is a NGO which is doing a fantastic job and getting into sectors which are hitherto neglected .The theme this time around was how to make your mother smile .!A fantastic theme considering the fact that in most parts  of the country ,women are  under the yoke of gender discrimination .As the Bharat Ratna put it “If a mother is happy,the family is happy .And if a family is happy ,the nation is happy”.Brilliant summarization of the health of any nation .

I am not going into the details of his message –that is available on youtube and newspapers.I am going to try and explain what the atmosphere was like when he was amongst  us .

I was not sure as to what I should wear .Its hot in Ahmedabad ,and I don’t have a summer suit .!!Should I dress up formally?Or casually ?The invitation was not specific about the dress code .I asked someone as to what I should wear .She told me to wear a suit .The hall will be airconditioned and even if it not ,you can always remove the coat ,she advised  .Hence I dressed up in a suit .I was escorted to my seat and I found that the hall was overflowing  with people.There were hundreds who were jostling for space .Others just did not leave their seats .!!The hall was wonderfully airconditioned and youth power was everywhere to be seen –after all it was a event organized by YUVA UNSTOPPABLE .!!Television crews were randomly interviewing people for their views on various issues .When one of them asked me why I was present ,I started by saying “In order of preference –Firstly to see Mr Abdul Kalam and” ……….a number of other reasons.To be very honest ,I am a great fan of his ,and like a excited schoolboy ,kept looking at the  point from where he was to enter .The moment came soon enough when the  lady  who was speaking to keep the huge crowd engrossed  was signaled to wind up because Mr Abdul Kalam was on his way to the hall .There was a huge flutter near the door ,as his security men formed a circle around him to keep off intruders .And then there was a  loud round of applause as he climbed the 4 or 5 steps on to the stage . Once on stage ,he folded his hands in a “Namaste”.He looked  just the same as we see him on television so many times .Visibly aged now ,with the craziest hairstyle one can ever see anywhere .!!Hair parted down the centre and from each half of the partition ,two locks brought  forward  to the forehead to form a small kind of a circle .For someone like me who also does not have a rational hairstyle ,Mr Kalaams hairstyle defies any logic .Why would one have a hairstyle like that ?And how must he be getting it into place ?It appears almost impossible to even style it like that .Is it natural?No-it appears very well combed and oiled .!! He wore a light brown bundgallah suit(Kalam Suit) .He sat down .His eyes darted and he picked up someone in the front row .He smiled and waved .All this ,while someone was introducing him .All of a sudden he heard her say something wrong .He corrected her “Not 40 ,but 42”!!he said with a smile .This was in reference to the number of awards he had won .Everyone enjoyed the sharpness of the ear and the mind and  his naughty smile .We all clapped .Sometimes he looked into space .Imagine how much he must have thought about space to have been called Indias “MissileMan”?.Imagine ,how much he must be knowing about space ?Imagine how different his world is as compared to ours .!Imagine how different his desires are as compared to ours ?I was not just looking at a human form –I was looking at a different human soul .

He gave away the prizes.And then my name was announced to come on stage .It was my tryst with destiny .I collected myself ,straightened my coat and walked up to the stage .And ,I was face to face with him .He was seated .As I approached him ,he got up .I gently put my hand on his shoulder and asked him to remain seated .I had touched the great man .!!But he was on his feet .I bent and touched his feet .There was a eerie feeling that went through me .It appeared so unreal .He then shook hands with me .Asked me something .The cameras clicked furiously .I was very aware of the occasion .I froze it in my mind .It will remain so till I die .!!

What happened after that (there was a dinner ),is a long story .To be told on another day .As I got back to my seat ,the two gentlemen on my left wanted to shake hands with me . “Let us shake hands with the hand that shook hands with Abdul Kalaam”.I looked at my hands.They have done so much for me throughout my life .I cant thank them enough .And least of all ,for shaking hands with Bharat Ratna ,Dr Abdul Kalam.!!