V. Mohammad Meeran of Dindigul, a retired Chief Engineer of State Highways Department, was one of the best friends of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam during his college days in Tiruchi as well as in Chennai.
Recalling his collage days with Dr. Kalam, Mr. Meeran, who did his intermediate course in St. Joseph’s College in Tiruchi, said here on Tuesday that they were close friends and strict vegetarians. “We used to go to vegetarian mess along with Brahmin students. He was very much interested in philosophy, literature and poetry. He always discussed the future of the country while walking on college campus in the evenings,” Mr. Meeran recalled. “The God should have permitted him to live at least till 2020 to make India a powerful nation.”
He met Dr. Kalam at St. Joseph’s College in 1950. Their common interest in religion, and philosophical and literary pursuits galvanised their friendship. Later, Mr. Meeran went to Guindy Engineering College and Dr. Kalam to MIT, Chennai. But their friendship continued in Chennai too.
“I stayed with him in his room No. 10 at Birla Hostel, MIT, on two occasions: to attend my graduation ceremony and to purchase my marriage suit. He accompanied me to select the marriage suit in 1956. After that, I met him at St. Mary’s School in Dindigul in 2001. Till then, letter communication had strengthened our friendship,” he said.
Mr. Meeran preserved several letters written by Dr. Kalam to him and also poetic commentary about their friendship in his college autograph book in 1951. Most of his letters were in Tamil.
