Away from missiles, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is trying his hand at some interior decoration — for a noble purpose, of course. Under his directions, the garden lounge in the North Wing of Rashtrapati Bhavan has now been converted into an ‘‘intellectual room’’ — the name coined by the President himself.Besides selecting the room, Kalam is reported to have supervised the renovation. Overlooking the Mughal Gardens, the room was repainted light yellow and refurbished with a ‘‘simple touch’’. One side of the room is dominated by a large table surrounded by chairs while six single sofas are arranged on the other side. The President plans to host discussions with his friends and experts here. A projection system and computer-aided facilities complete the look. Enough shelf space for books and files has also been provided.Kalam is known to have a penchant for discussions. Even during his stint at the DRDO, he is reported to have formed an intellectual group which would hold regular meetings. However, Kalam does not confine his discussions to scientific issues. Those close to him say he discusses social and economic issues with equal passion. The ‘‘intellectual room’’ is being seen as his way of keeping abreast with the country’s problems.Since taking up residence at Rashtrapati Bhawan, he has made many changes. But this is the first one in his residential quarters. With the work complete, the room now awaits first discussion.
