Ludhiana residents stumped by Kalam's humility

LUDHIANA: As India's former president APJ Abdul Kalam passed away on Monday in Shillong, a few city residents who met him shared with ToI their most memorable experiences with the legend.
Sachin Khosla, owner of an IT start-up, says: "My meeting with Dr APJ was a short one, while I was returning from Chennai after my business trip in 2002. And to my surprise, he was travelling in economy class without any VIP treatment.When people saw him, all of them went crazy and started clicking photos and getting his autographs. When I asked him for an autograph in one of the books I was reading, he took out a pen from his suit pocket, and you won't believe it was not a premium pen, but a simple gel pen. Not only did he travel in economy class and did not have any VIP security, but his living style was also very simple, which is truly an inspiration for all of us. After the autograph, he asked me what I did, and wished me good luck. I was so happy and felt great. After that day, my company has been progressing very well, and I believe it's because of his blessings."
Sangeeta Sharma, a dance teacher from a school, says: "I met this legend twice in my life. And those two days are definitely the best ones of my life. First time, I met him when I was a student in Jalandhar at APJ College of Fine Arts on 22 July 2008, and second time on August 22 last year in a school as a choreographer. The news of his death definitely shook me, but I would say he is immortal. He has given us so many books and principles that if we adopt just one principle, our life would be worth living. He will always be remembered for his vision for India. His book 'India 2020' should be read by everyone and remembered. For me, he is a mentor and true leader. The best quality about him was his nature and the way he respected artists. When I met him last year, he took out time for us. His love for students is well-known, and I would always remember him as a great man and a fantastic teacher."