Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s ancestors were wealthy merchants involved in trading of groceries between Rameswaram and Sri Lanka. They also owned several boats to ferry people from the mainland to the island and back. But their fortunes dwindled after the construction of Pamban Bridge in 1914, said Justice T. Raja, judge, Madras High Court, on Thursday.
Addressing a group of lawyers after releasing a book ‘A complete Indian’ penned by Additional Government Pleader T.S. Mohamed Mohideen on the ideals of former President, the judge said that Kalam’s rise from Rameswaram to the Rashtrapati Bhavan and then into the hearts of 1.28 billion citizens of the country was a great journey that could inspire millions of youngsters to tread his path.
Kalam’s former scientific advisor K. Ponraj, who received the first copy of the book, said that the former President was the only individual to have addressed 2.5 crore students and motivated them towards Vision 2020. “He considered the post of President ceremonial and concentrated more on disseminating his agenda of national development besides performing his ceremonial duties,” he added.
Mr. Ponraj also said that Kalam holds the distinction of making a Powerpoint presentation even to the then President of United States George W. Bush on how India would become an energy independent nation by 2030. “He had invited our Members of Parliament too for breakfast at Rashtrapati Bhavan and made a presentation on the role expected to be played by Parliamentarians in achieving Vision 2020,” he said. Justice S. Nagamuthu, Additional Advocate General K. Chellapandian, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court Bar Association (MMBA) president M. Subash Babu and others took part in the event.
