President in Indian constitution can not really do much. He / She "Should" be non-political, not partial and upright. He / She makes few speeches in India and abroad, addresses the nation once a year, and gives away awards. What can he / she really change ? Can he affect people below poverty line ? Can he do something which makes it easier for people below poverty line to get food, clothing & shelter ? Can he "force" the government to take decisions on important matters like connecting all the rivers in India ? Half the deaths due to Floods and Famine could be reduced, if such projects can be implemented. To my mind, Kalam has not "Changed" any thing significantly, and it is unfair for anyone to expect the President to change anything. He / She does not have the Authority (Forget the Power or Political will) to change anything. The post of president is like a nice certificate on the wall, and Kalam was a perfect fit. However the only negative I personally thought about Mr Kalam was his indecision about Afzal mercy petition. He just avoided taking a decision on the issue. What was the crucial information he had asked for, to take a decision ? If requests for information from the President's office take such a long time, imagine what happens to information required by common citizens. Mr.Kalam's record (to my mind) was not clean on this issue. About the next president - apart from being the first lady president - nothing to expect
