On his own ground

The media delegation accompanying the President found themselves on a high-voltage scientific expedition. The rare visits included a nuclear...

The media delegation accompanying the President found themselves on a high-voltage scientific expedition. The rare visits included a nuclear installation in Geneva and a geo-thermal and hydrogen plant in Reykjavik. But the most exclusive was the ride in an IL-62 along with the President to see the Yuzhnoye missile manufacturing unit at Dnipropetrovsk. The unit was set up in 1966 and once in missile territory, India’s missile man was at his inquisitive best.

Cartosat pictures a hit again

While in Berne, the President arranged for an Indian satellite picture of the Swiss Alps to reach him. For Kiev, ISRO chief G. Madhavan Nair carried a huge print of Rodina Mat, the gigantic steel-covered edifice which commemorates the victory of the Soviet Republic over the Nazis. The prints of the picture, taken a few days ago by the Cartosat-I satellite, were presented by President Kalam to President Yushchenko during the State banquet at the Maryinski Palace. ‘‘The Ukranian leader described the prints as fantastic,’’ Nair said.

The poet at his best

During his two-week long tour, the President penned several poems for special occasions. One poem was inspired by the grandeur of the Kremlin, one on the Swiss Alps and so on. The poems may be added in the upcoming compilation of the Presidents poems titled The Life Tree. While in an inspirational mode in Ukraine, the President made a slight departure. At the baroque Pacherska Cathedral on Thursday, he read out a hymn and asked the large delegation accompanying him to repeat after him, line by line. An emotive five minutes in the ancient city of Kiev.

Ukraine feedback

On the flight to Kiev, NRI Minister Jagdish Tytler gave an assignment to MPs N.P. Durga and Milind Deora. He said the President wanted the three of them to prepare a report on their impressions of the tour, maybe for some pointers for the last stop. In Kiev, the politicians said they would rather prepare a final report for the President and include their impressions of Ukraine as well. The President often takes such feedback from members of his entourage and some key officials say they have been giving him daily reports.

— Ritu Sarin

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