I would like to share a forwarded email... The writer itseems is an eminent jurist
Never pompous, not even 'presidential' (in either deportment or demeanor), he walked into the Palace at Raisina Hill with few worldly goods %u2014 he now leaves with even fewer: "I will go with only two small suitcases," he wistfully said last Thursday. We could have asked him to stay: but we didn't.
There were excuses (there always are). It was said that apart from Rajendra Prasad there had been no 'precedent' for a second term. But as any lawyer will tell you, if you have a good case in court there is no need for a 'precedent'; it is the good case that makes the precedent! But all this is in the realm of wishful thinking: as the poet says: "We look before and after and pine for what is not..."
The stark reality is that this lovable figure %u2014 popular, sometimes even populist, but never ostentations %u2014 now exits from Rashtrapati Bhavan in the same frame of mind as he entered it: with an overriding concern for the 'underdog'. Hear this: one year into office, on the morning of July 14, 2003, at 8.40 am, the RAX in the office of the secretary to the president rang. President Kalam was at the other end. "Mr. Nair," he said in a voice that was (as always) cool and composed, "last night I could not sleep because my bedroom was leaking..." P.M. Nair froze and muttered something. "Any other president," he now recalls, "and my head would have rolled, although for no fault of mine."
RE:we could have....But we didnt ....
by vimalakanth Jr on Jul 29, 2007 07:57 AM Permalink
Continuation....
At the other end of the line, the president (sensing Nair's embarrassment), continued reassuringly, "Don't worry Mr. Nair, I know you will immediately set things right in my bedroom. What I am worried about are those houses on the President's Estate where they may not have a second bedroom to shift to when the only one that is available leaks." So Nair got moving, and with the help of the CPWD, the old staff quarters %u2014 until then dilapidated and neglected %u2014 were transformed into bright new leak-proof houses: in almost record time. Nair tells me that he was greatly impressed at the concern and compassion shown by the president %u2014 not for himself but for other inmates on the Presidential Estate. It has been said that no man, however great, is a hero to his own secretary or his own valet. But as with all such sayings there are exceptions %u2014 from that point on, Nair had found his hero!
Now another revelation %u2014 so far kept under wraps at Rashtrapati Bhavan (under presidential orders): In May 2006, President Kalam's relatives from the south decided to descend on him (as relatives tend to often do). On instructions of the president they were welcomed by his staff at the railway station, and were looked after right up to the time they departed. But the Controller of Household was under strict instructions to keep a meticulous account of all the expenses incurred on behalf of the relatives %u2014 all 53 of them. Not once was an office vehicle used for any of them. It was
RE:RE:we could have....But we didnt ....
by vimalakanth Jr on Jul 29, 2007 07:58 AM Permalink
Continuation part 3
Not once was an office vehicle used for any of them. It was made clear by the president that he would pay %u2014 not only for the transport of all his relatives to and from Delhi, and also within Delhi, he would also pay for the various rooms occupied by them at Rashtrapati Bhavan and the food that was consumed by them %u2014 the rooms at the prescribed rate, the food on the basis of expenses actually incurred.
When his relatives left after a week's stay, the president was of course sad to see them all go, but he was also lighter in his pocket: the total expenses debited to his personal account was Rs 3,54,924! As we practicing lawyers often say in court "the facts speak for themselves": President Kalam has set a high benchmark of rectitude in public office %u2014 worthy of emulation. And as a living embodiment of 'Transparency-National', his parting words of advice were: "Don't accept gifts." Delicately put: what he meant to say of course was: "Don't accept gifts for favors in return."
Yes, we will all miss him. Me, too. Although I had publicly criticized him for putting his signature on the Bihar Dissolution Proclamation, and for not insisting on a personal meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi during his presidential trip to Myanmar, in retrospect, these were but aberrations %u2014 small lapses %u2014 in a hugely successful presidency.
Of him it can be said, as Winston Churchill once said about his departed king: "He nothing common did, or mean, upon that memorable scene." Memor
RE:RE:RE:we could have....But we didnt ....
by vimalakanth Jr on Jul 29, 2007 08:03 AM Permalink
Concluding part....
Of him it can be said, as Winston Churchill once said about his departed king: "He nothing common did, or mean, upon that memorable scene." Memorable scenes are rarely re-enacted, but they are always remembered.
Again, this is the writing of a jurist...who echoed the silent tears of my heart.
muje sirf uska kata hua sar chahiye, sallo tum log prlament me bethe the aur tum par attack hua tab hamare des ke nojwano ne tume bachya ,kya ye unki galti hai.agar ek shipahi ki jagah ek lallu leader mara gaya hota to afzal ki fansi me itni der lagti. nikkamo tum log kabhi nahi sudroge.bas janta ko cho..... banate rahoge.
mera kehna mano tumlog sudhar jao varna mujse boora koi nahi hoga..
RE:afzal
by silence prince on Jul 28, 2007 12:00 PM Permalink
sahi kaha aaj desh ko aise gandhi ki jaroorat hai jo in kutton ko goli mar sake mai to kahta hoon aaj se aur abhi se apna kaam suroo kar do
RE:afzal
by Ramesh Anand on Jul 28, 2007 09:13 PM Permalink
Bahut sundar.Makkar hain ye Politician.Desh ko bechna chahte hain Islamiyon ko.Jitna delay karen ge afjal kee phansi ko utna in ka jeetnaa tai hai.
If you ask common Indian if they believe Dr.Kalam's statement, most of the people will agree. We believe more in Dr.Kalam than any political parties, I wonder that is the benefit to keep it pending. If UPA is doing this for sake of vote, then it is a shame because I donot believe that our muslim brothers will support any terrorist activities and thus UPA will not be benefited. If UPA donot have any intention like that, they should solve this issue.
Anyway we are fedup with UPA, and one might feel our internal security gone to a toss under this government.
RE:Need to ask UPA govt....
by silence prince on Jul 28, 2007 11:48 AM Permalink
why ask to UPA govt and who are you to ask about this to govt. when the president of Indian republic Mr. Kalamcould not dare to ask for the papers in yearsby the govt how you dare to ask ?? my friend this govt can only think protecting terrorists, passing bils on reservation and increase salry of MPs any comment is welcome
RE:Need to ask UPA govt....
by Ramesh Anand on Jul 28, 2007 09:18 PM Permalink
dear kalyan mitra, you will be very sorry to learn that our educated and rich muslim brothers support terrorism whole heartedly.You may not be knowing Dr Haneef Dr.Safeel and Kafeel ahmads.their whole family support terrorism. surprisingly you do not know
what a joke .... In his statement Mr. kalam admitted that he does not want to revise the power of a president . I want to know whether a president has the right to ask the govt. about the work ?? If yes then why Mr. Kalam didn't ask for papers of Afjal for years???? or it si true that he also wanted the decision to be pending??? If any of you have the answer, provide it ...
IN MY MIND KALAM WAS GREAT BUT HOWEVER SINCE HE IS TELLING LIE TO EVERY INDIAN THAT I HAVEN'T RECEVIED THAT PLEA. I WANT TO ASK ONE QUESTION THAT WHY KALAM IS SAYING ALL THIS AFTER RETIREMNT OF PRSEDIENT SHIP. WHY HE IS NOT CLEARED THIS THING WHEN ON HIS POST.IT IS TOTALLY SHCOKING AND VERY UNEXPECTED SPEECH BY KALAM. WE COULD NOT EXPECT THINGS LIKE THSI BY SUCH A VERY HIGH PERSON.
RE:IT IS TOTALLY SHOCKING
by babu rengaraj on Jul 28, 2007 09:22 AM Permalink
you are wrong mr.Mahendran, you may come to know this now, this is already cleared by some leading news papers that this paper is pending with ministry and not with the president. lots of political parties misguided people like you in this regard
RE:IT IS TOTALLY SHOCKING
by silence prince on Jul 28, 2007 11:27 AM Permalink
well said dear In his statement Mr. kalam admitted that he does not want to revise the power of a president . I want to know whether a president has the right to ask the govt. about the work ?? If yes then why Mr. Kalam didn't ask for papers of Afjal for years???? or it si true that he also wanted the decision to be pending??? If any of you have the answer, provide it ...
RE:IT IS TOTALLY SHOCKING
by YOGESH WARIK on Jul 28, 2007 09:37 AM Permalink
What things are shocking to you than this? Mr. President had been asked after retiration. ANd he answered the for it.
I will ignore what is issue. Rather I will concentrate what he has given to India. Such a great person does not need to entertain all. Rather he was busy in very great works. You are forgetting that he was not politician, who waste time in ONLY abusing/blaming and showing how they are clean.
DO you want to say, that Mr. President also should have wasted his valuable time in that black politics????
RE:IT IS TOTALLY SHOCKING
by wani bhardwaj on Jul 28, 2007 09:48 AM Permalink
Mr. Mahendrasing Nike, the President of the State when is in power has to keep extreme balance and etiquette which all the previous presidents had shown. The actions and omissions while they are in office should not be dragged into public which may ultimately create constitutional crisis and that is why there is a decorum to keep while one sits in that particular chair. However, these ex-presidents can make it to public if their deeds are creating public anger in so much so that Public can know the inside story. So our People's President Mr. Kalam did not do any wrong thing while making its mind clear on the Afzal issue. We also wants to know why UPA and Leftists showed much distance and anger on him and what happened when Sonia met him immediately after the last general election thereby she has to tell Indian Public that she is not interested to become a PM of India.
Perhaps you are lying Mr. "Professor" Why you did not respond when Mr. Bal Thakeray made fun of your hair style coming in way of taking decision about Afjal. Or we may believe that you don't read newspapers or watch TV.
RE:I did not receive Afjal's papers.
by sunil sharma on Jul 28, 2007 09:54 AM Permalink
Dear friend. Don,t be so angry.Every one has write to comment or ask questions.I wonder if you had chosen to answer instead.
RE:I did not receive Afjal's papers.
by KapilRaj Koroth on Jul 28, 2007 10:03 AM Permalink
I think Kalam does not need to answer *thakaray. He maintained his dignity . Thats it.
RE:I did not receive Afjal's papers.
by YOGESH WARIK on Jul 28, 2007 09:33 AM Permalink
Such a great person does not need to entertain all. Rather he was busy in very great works. You are forgetting that he was not politician, who waste time in ONLY abusing/blaming and showing how they are clean.
DO you want to say, that Mr. President also should have wasted his valuable time in that black politics????
Mr. Thakeray is also a very big person, and also he then stopped talking on that issue. You small people doing monkey act, just follow the stupid things. Now Mr. Thakeray would have forgotten the same, why not you?
RE:RE:I did not receive Afjal's papers.
by sunil sharma on Jul 28, 2007 10:00 AM Permalink
There is no denying that Mr. Kalam is a great man. But he should have known the blemish on his stint as president.And he should have done something about it.Hero worship is goood but their wrong doings should not be ignored.
RE:I did not receive Afjal's papers.
by Rahul on Jul 28, 2007 11:01 AM Permalink
He is not dirty politician like your Thackery. In fact as a president, he must maintain the decorum and not to answer all the dirty questions.
Unfortunately, we have such idiots in our educated society, which allows dirty politicians to prosper.
RE:I did not receive Afjal's papers.
by sunil sharma on Jul 28, 2007 11:15 AM Permalink
All the more reason to keep his image clean.His reply would have exposed the home ministry who created an impression that papers were with president.
