The late Dr A P J Abdul Kalam was a ‘People’s President’ and a very special human being, someone whose stature will be difficult to match in that high office. I think what inspired me most about him was his faith in God, which helped him rise above a difficult childhood and propelled him to eventually occupy the highest office in the land. On the occasion of his birth anniversary this month, I remember his words, “You are the creator of your own destiny.”

I have a flair for poetry and after Dr Kalam became President, I wrote a poem based on him and sent it to him along with a book of poems I had written earlier. I received a reply from his secretary, followed by a personal letter from Dr Kalam thanking me for sending him my poems! The poems were in Hindi and Punjabi, and he got them translated into English. He liked them, especially one titled Life Is A Mystery.

This was such a great honour but I had no idea that the most momentous event of my life was yet to come. The next day, I received a telephone call that shook my world. The voice said, “I am Sharma speaking from Rashtrapati Bhavan. I am secretary to President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam. This is to inform you that he is coming to Mumbai on 12 September 2005 and would like to meet you. We have already informed the police commissioner’s office and you can go and get your pass.”

I was speechless but managed to answer his questions and thank him. I was 80 years old then and, to date, nothing has been able to top this experience. On 12 September, my son drove me to the Santacruz airport’s ceremonial lounge, where I was to meet the President. After a thorough security check, we were guided to a room where military and police officers were milling around. Being a Navy wife, I had no hesitation and I promptly introduced myself to him.

Soon, we were guided to the hall where the President sahib was seated. When we were still halfway across the hall, he stood up and shook our hands. We were told we would get four to five minutes but we got more than 15 minutes to chat with him! Dr Kalam asked me about my husband and my family. I told him he was an Army doctor, who had been transferred to the Navy, and that we were originally from Lahore in Pakistan and had come to India during Partition. He was pleased that I wrote poetry and he signed my book. Then he asked my son a few questions about himself, posed with us for a few photos, and we left carrying with us warm memories of meeting the most distinguished President of India.

Later, I kept in touch with him, writing to him on special occasions. When I heard of the ‘thinking hut’ he had set up on the premises of Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he spent quiet moments in creative contemplation, I wrote asking if I could visit him in his hut. His secretary promptly responded, asking when I could make it to Delhi. Unfortunately, I never made the trip as I had taken ill and did not have the opportunity to meet Dr Kalam again before he retired as President.

Looking back, it doesn’t really matter. I was chosen to have met this distinguished, loving and caring personality once, and will always cherish the memory.

—Bansi Singh, Mumbai

Photo courtesy: Bansi Singh
Featured in Harmony — Celebrate Age Magazine
October 2017