Beholden to none

The election of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as the 12th president of the republic is once again a testimony to the greatness of India8217;s democrac...

The election of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as the 12th president of the republic is once again a testimony to the greatness of India8217;s democracy. The son of a boatman, whose elder sister had to pawn her ornaments to send him to college, he has risen to the topmost position in the country.

His is a story that should encourage every young person in the country to strive hard to excel in his/her chosen field. That Kalam did not hanker after the post and won it by a near-record margin is a tribute to his greatness. His decision to invite 100 children to his oath-taking ceremony should be welcomed, not only for its novelty but also for its symbolism.

Children are the future of this country and it is by taking care of them, by providing them the best possible facilities for their physical and mental growth, that the nation can achieve greatness. At a time when most leaders think of themselves and their families, it is rare to find someone who has 8216;8216;a vision for the new millennium8217;8217; and who thinks of 8216;8216;unleashing the power within India8217;8217;.

It is a comforting thought that such a person will now be presiding over the destiny of over a 100 crore people.

Those few who labour the point that Kalam has no clue about the nitty-gritty of politics as he spent almost all his adult life in laboratories and drawing rooms do not realise that he has an excellent track record of working as a team leader. Having worked with or interacted with six prime ministers, he cannot be a political ignoramus 8212; as he himself pointed out.

His post-election statement that there is no such thing as a 8216;neutral president8217; and that a 8216;8216;president is a president8217;8217; shows he has clear views on the position he is about to occupy. His refusal to accept the government8217;s nominee as his secretary conforms to this wholly welcome trait.

Though Kalam was the nominee of the ruling National Democratic Alliance and the opposition Congress, there is no need for him to feel beholden to these parties. Rather, they should be beholden to him for accepting their nomination. In other words, his greatest asset is the independence the post vests in him, which he can use to the best advantage of the nation, whether in the interpretation of the Constitution or in deciding hundreds of legislative bills and administrative proposals that will come up before him in due course. The need for such independence cannot be overemphasised when attempts are on to capture every institution in the country for narrow political and ideological ends.

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As the occupant of Rashtrapati Bhavan, he can play a pivotal role in translating his own vision for India in 2020 into a reality. In this, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will have the support and good wishes of the whole country.