Meet Parameshwaran, the man who served breakfast and supper to APJ Abdul Kalam for seven years

Sitting at his Guruvayurappan hotel at Gandhari Amman Coil Road in the city, Nair recalled those days and how the frugal food he had served to Kalam, day after day, became instrumental for a lasting relationship.

Guruvayurappan hotel at Gandhari Amman Coil Road.

He was then staying at Indira Lodge near the hotel. One morning, a watchman (security guard) of the lodge came and sought tea for a guest. A few days later, the guest (Kalam) himself turned up.

Watch video

“Lots of people used to come at the hotel in those days also. But, I felt an attraction and respect towards this man. This forced me to keep a special plate for Kalam. That plate was used for serving food for Kalam only,” said Nair.

Every morning, he would take a glass of milk and two appams. For supper, he wanted only two chapattis and a glass of milk.

“I felt an attraction and respect towards this man. This forced me to keep a special plate for Kalam. That plate was used for serving food for Kalam only,” said Nair.

“There was not a single incident of Kalam complaining about food. He had always been in a hurry. Once he told me that if he forgot to pay money for the food, I should remind him without failing.”

Sometimes, due to his busy schedule at VSSC, Kalam turned up the hotel very late night. Then he used to tell me to pack the chapatti and would eat after reaching the lodge. “Kalam did so because he did not want to cause any inconvenience to me and my staff. But, I had been always happy to wait until Kalam turned up for his supper,” said Nair.

Nair said other customers were wondering at the special attention he had given to Kalam. “They never knew he was a scientist. I told them he was a great man, whom I respected a lot.”

After Kalam moved out of VSSC in 1982, he kept in touch with Nair who had fed him for seven years in the city. After Kalam became the President, there had been several functions in the city, which he had attended. “I had turned up at every function in which Kalam participated.”

Seven months back, when he was attending a function in the city, Nair had gone there to watch my customer of yesteryears. “Kalam recognized me and that was the last time I met him,” said Nair.