The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Top honour means little for missile man

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 15, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Top honour means little for missile man

By S. Nagesh Kumar

HYDERABAD, JULY 14. His compassion for the weak, his ready wit and his hard line on defence policy came out in full view when India's first citizen, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, interacted with MLAs.

The Bharat Ratna awardee said he was one among those not unduly interested in the nation's highest award. This served as a put-down to the Janata Party MLA, Kommireddy Ramulu, who suggested awarding Bharat Ratna to the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, for her `supreme sacrifice' in declining the Prime Minister's post.

Unfazed by the loaded question, the President quipped: "Persons whom we recommend are normally not too interested (in the award). I am one of them."

The President's address brought out not only his passion for science and technology, particularly of the defence variety, but also his vision for the nation in which agriculture, rural development, inter-linking of rivers, rainwater harvesting, global competitiveness and even better education for minority women found a place.

Dr. Kalam's famous soft spot for children became evident when he tried to drive home points even on key and contentious public issues by referring to his experiences with them. He recalled how nine physically and mentally challenged children at a national institute in the city, participating in a 100-metre sprint in 1995, abandoned the race to pick up one of them who had fallen twice on the track. None cared about winning the race.

"When mentally challenged children can achieve something, why can't a billion people realise their dreams and the vision for the nation," he told Padma Devender Reddy of the TRS amid thumping of tables by MLAs.

Giving another example, the President recollected how parents shed tears on seeing their physically challenged children dancing after they were fitted with lightweight prosthesis weighing a mere 30 grams against 3-kg heavy calipers they wore earlier. These were developed by Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) and DRDL (when he was working there) from carbon materials used as heat shield in Agni and structure in Prithvi missiles.

Dr. Kalam showed he was no soft-liner when it came to nuclear policy or defence spending. The nation must be strong enough to repulse any attack by its enemies, he said.

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