Three scientists try to grasp life after Pokharan blast

Rajagopala Chidambaram, Mumbai based Chairman of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) does not really relish his frequent trips to Delhi. Though he has an office in South Block, it has never really had the lived-in look it has now acquired.

And another thing which all three down-to-earth scientists would prefer to do without is their enhanced security followingthe nuclear blasts on May 11 and May 13. Both Abdul Kalam and Chidambaram have been provided with Z Plus security cover, accorded only to those in the highest risk category.

A scientist at the DRDO disclosed that they had designed a special bullet-proof car for their chief, Abdul Kalam, and literally had to force him to start using it. “We had designed cars for him even earlier but he steadfastly refused to have anything to do with them. But just one month ago, he was finally forced to change his old rickety Ambassador for the bullet-proof one,” he said.

Last year DRDO scientists had designed a special security gadget for Abdul Kalam and had gone to the DRDO guest house at Asiad Village complex, where he lives in a single room, to gift it to him. They were welcomed and treated hospitably but had to carry the gadget back with them. He had refused to accept it.

Though Abdul Kalam had security even earlier, it had been enhanced following a review of the threat perception carried out by the Ministry ofHome Affairs (MHA) after the Pokharan blasts.

Security personnel used to feel that they were forcing themselves upon the unwilling Abdul Kalam who would try his best to “evade” his security men. In fact, a senior police official had been compelled to request the Bharat Ratna winner to let the security men perform their duty or else his (the police officer’s) job will be on the line.

The security for Chidambaram in Mumbai has also been increased and he gets the same security cover during his trips to Delhi.

However, Santhanam has somehow managed to evade the security cover but he has been “advised” not to attend the parties he used to. His friends claim that the man with a sense of humour does not really like being confined to his house to enjoy his drinks. His friends and colleagues maintain that he enjoys his drinks, but swear that his senses become even sharper. “People have tried to get things out of him after he has had a few drinks but the man will say only what he wants to say and only asmuch as he wants to say,” a friend and colleague at DRDO said.