'Will there be youngsters?'

As a rich legacy passes on, Dr VK Aatre, former DRDO chief, recollects the days spent with former President Abdul Kalam with nostalgia and affection. He speaks about the man, who was committed to science, to people, and who wanted to give wings to the young and let them touch the sky  “We were colleagues for 20 odd years and my memories of him are rich and vivid.

I remember him as a man who led a simple life but possessed exceptional managerial skills. There was in him the ability to bring out the best in everyone and lead by example. A brilliant listener, he could charm anybody with his listening skills. Even when he was holding the highest office of the country, he remained simple. Whenever we used to visit him at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, he would treat us the same way he would when we were colleagues and would call us by our names as he used to.

When it came to his dynamics with the young, it was difficult to find out whether it was the young people who were more interested in him or whether he was more interested in them. Such was the connect he had. If he was ever called for any function, he would ask, ‘Will there be youngsters there? And how many?’ If the number was more, he would be delighted. In fact, I remember I wanted to take him to Kalkunte, a village near Whitefield, where my grandfather had started a school. As always, he asked me, ‘Will there be youngsters at the event?’ There was. And around 7000 of them! There were those from the neighbouring villages too. He made the day special for each one by shaking hands.

He was also a man who had great affinity for books. This was evident when one entered his room. There would be books all over. One cannot forget his deep love for music in him. His all-time favourite song was ‘Endaro Mahanubhavulu’, the Carnatic ‘kriti’. He also loved playing
the veena.”  

(As told to Anupama Ramakrishnan)