What's common between presidential candidates Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Capt Lakshmi Sehgal? Both have an Ahmedabad connection in noted danseuse Mrinalini Sarabhai. Amma, as Mrinalini is known, is the ‘‘darling baby sister’’ of Capt Lakshmi Sehgal while her husband, eminent scientist Dr Vikram Sarabhai, was Dr Kalam’s mentor. Little wonder then that Amma has been been receiving calls from both presidential nominees regularly. Amma, the youngest in her family, has fond memories of her elder sister who was the second of four siblings. Nehruvian model a flop: Sehgal NEW DELHI: If Subhash Chandra Bose had been around after Independence, the country’s situation would have been much better, said Captain Lakshmi Sehgal, the Left’s nominee for President. The Nehruvian model, based on mixed principles of capitalism and socialism, had not delivered to a large extent, the INA veteran said. (Agencies) ‘‘She was extremely loving and caring as I was much younger than her,’’ says Amma, adding ‘‘she has always cherished me as a younger sister.’’ ‘‘She was tomboyish and outspoken, unlike me. We were both very different people,’’ she says. And the woman, who’s all set to give Kalam a challenge, has tremendous will power, she says. ‘‘Lakshmi was pursuing her medical career and happened to be in Singapore when Netaji was there. After seeing her determination, he asked her to form the women’s wing of INA and she agreed,’’ smiles Amma. Amma said the boys of the family had formed a cricket team and Lakshmi was the only girl in it. But even before play had started, Lakshmi laid down a rule that she never be declared out. ‘‘She was a very strong person and that’s why everyone agreed to such a rule,’’ laughs the sister. Amma says Lakshmi agreed to contest as a gesture towards the party. ‘‘She doesn’t expect to be elected President.’’ On how it felt to have one’s sibling nominated for President, Amma says she is delighted. Nuke man Dr Kalam also called Amma to thank her for the best wishes she had sent after he was nominated. ‘‘He was very cordial and said he held Dr Vikram Sarabhai in high regard,’’ says Amma.
