My Time with Kalam

Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 started off like any other day. I was getting ready for the office when my phone rang. I picked up the phone to hear my good friend Raghu's voice. Raghu immediately announced "Buddy we have a meeting with Dr. Abdul Kalam today at 10 PM, in Raj Bhavan. You have to be there." It took me more than a minute to assimilate everything that Raghu had just said. Somewhere something didn't seem right, how can two ordinary people meet up with The Former President of India just like that. I was instantly worried that this was a practical joke that somebody decided to play on both of us. Raghu for his part reassured me that this was a real invite and urged me to not miss out on this date with destiny. 

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the legend <Courtesy: Dhristiias>

The rest of the day passed away in a blur. I didn't let any one except my family members know about this chance meeting because I myself hadn't come to terms with what was waiting for me later that night. I left the house with my parent's best wishes and thousands of unanswered questions. I landed at Raj Bhavan right at quarter to 10. Raghu and his mother were waiting for me and the giant citadel of Raj Bhavan which housed the No.1 citizen of the state (The Governor) was looming large upon us. This was the place which would stand witness to our meeting with a world class scientist, former No.1 citizen of India and one of the greatest human beings of our time. But there was still the small matter of getting through the security.

Raj Bhavan Hyderabad, the place <Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle>

The insurmountable obstacle that we were all worried about reared its head at the first gate itself when the security officer pronounced loud and clear that only Raghu had the permission to see the President and at best he could allow one more person to go along with Raghu. Before I could respond Raghu's mother urged me to go along with her son and reassured us that she would be waiting outside while we finished the meeting. I was touched by her gesture and insisted that she should be the one accompanying Raghu. Meanwhile Raghu 'The Hero' was doing his best to persuade the security officer to see if both of us could be accommodated. To our surprise the security officer relented and let us in to meet his superiors. The same reject and request cycle repeated itself two more times before we finally met the Head of Security who directed us to wait in a room with the rest of the invitees until the President's personal security approved our request.

The waiting hall to which we were consigned to looked like a small Durbar and all of us waiting there resembled courtiers eagerly awaiting the arrival of the king. Around me were whiz kids, star athletes, artists and an author in the form of Raghu. I was neither as talented as any of them nor had accomplished anything significant. Questions such as "Why am I here?" "What did I do to deserve this opportunity?" "Will I get the approval to meet Dr. Kalam or would this be yet another case of so near yet so far?" swarmed around my head. While I was engrossed in such thoughts our room emptied slowly and steadily with people being called out one after the other for their appointments. When our time came we were informed much to our delight that all the three of us could indeed go in to meet Dr. Kalam. Standing outside the room I still couldn't believe the turn of events which had taken overtaken my life over the past one day. I was finally about to meet the man himself and caught a glimpse of him for the first time through a slit in the curtain.

When we were led into the room Dr. Kalam greeted us with warmth and affection. He smiled at me as though we had known each other for ages. After the mandatory introductions we all settled down on the couch with Raghu sitting right next to Dr. Kalam. While Raghu was talking about the book he was working upon I had the pleasure of observing the former President who was latching onto every word that was coming out of Raghu's mouth. At almost 11 in the night the octogenarian was as sharp as ever, asking us thought provoking questions and enlightening us with his peals of wisdom. When the time came to leave Dr. Kalam asked me about my field of work. When I told him I was a Business Analyst he smiled once again and wished me "Best of Luck". We took leave from him soon after but his inquisitive eyes which looked as though they wanted to understand everything about my profession of 'Business Analysis' never left me. The former President of India seeming to be living the adage 'Once a student always a student'.

The experience

As we walked out of Raj Bhavan everything seemed surreal. Raghu had been trying to get an appointment with Dr. Kalam for years but the fact that it materialized with me in the mix seemed like a blessing. Months rolled forward but I never spoke about that evening. Words seldom do justice to miracles and for me meeting Dr. Kalam was nothing short of a miracle.

Then came July 27th, the news that Dr. Kalam left all of us for the heavenly abode hit me like a bolt out of the blue. The last bastion of humanity and a beacon of hope for this generation had vanished. I felt hollow inside and the questions of that day came swirling back . There were many people who deserved to meet Kalam on his last trip to Hyderabad yet we were the ones who were blessed to meet him. "Why me? What did I do to deserve this honour?" The questions were many but the answers were none.

It took some days for the rays of wisdom to clear away the clouds of self doubt which enveloped my mind. I slowly realized this eternal truth: Dr Kalam didn't meet me because I deserved it, he met me because I needed it. Yes the man who saved many a space mission rescued my dreary existence from relapsing further by restoring my belief in the magic of life. Dr. Kalam proved to me that life always reveals its magic to those who persevere. Dr. Kalam rose from a newspaper boy to become the President of India because he believed in himself and never gave up. Raghu on the other hand secured the appointment with Dr. Kalam and took us through three levels of security because he never stopped believing in the purity of his pursuit. This was the lesson I had to learn and one I shall pass on to the future generations.    

I learnt about the magic of never giving up from Raghu, the magic of sacrifice from Raghu's mother and the magic of humility & generosity from Dr. Kalam. Truly that magical evening set me firmly up on the path which I walk today. My time with Kalam might have lasted only a few minutes but its impact will stay with me for a life time. Years from now when I narrate this story to my grand children I will always let them know that "Dr. Kalam met me not because I was special but because he was special." And you need such special people to reinvigorate your life and inspire you to always do the right thing. My heart knows now that there is no end for people like Dr. Kalam, they are immortal and live through the lives of the people they touch. Dr. Kalam, I salute you Dear Sir and will always remember what you taught me. Jai Hind!

Until Next Time,

Your Kalam Admirer,
J.J. Chaitanya