This note hasn’t been written to capitalize on the current frenzy of India’s Presidential candidate. This has been written, from the point of view of a layman, to make a case as to why one of the nominees should actually not take up the post if he is chosen for it.
The candidate who I am referring to is Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Before you stop reading the article, perhaps out of exasperation or out of contempt that someone would not want Dr. Kalam to be India’s President, allow me to explain the rationale behind my thinking. What I need from you now is patience.
Yes, we all know that Dr. Kalam was probably India’s most well-known and most celebrated President. The nation was truly in a frenzy when his candidature had been announced and he had accepted to be the 11th President of the Indian Republic. A man, who had become well-known throughout the length and breadth of the nation and who elicited the same respect from the young and old alike had been chosen. He was probably one of the very few Presidents who dared to disagree with the government on issues and it was probably for this reason that he wasn’t asked to take on a second term right after his first.
If nothing else, this should show that I greatly respect the man. And it is the fear borne out of this respect that I wish he does not take up a second term.
You see, when his first term was done (in 2007) and when public opinion almost unanimously voted to give Dr. Kalam a second term, he was overlooked. The government that was in power then (and funnily enough, is the same one that is in power now) never bothered to give a valid explanation as to why Dr. Kalam had not been offered a second term. To the common man, who had seen the President refuse to sign some of the legislative bills that had been decided upon by the Parliament, it seemed to be nothing more than revenge. To make matters worse, the candidate that had been put up, was one whom none but a select few from the ruling party had ever heard about. None knew her credentials. None knew her capabilities. None knew her contributions to the nation. And yet,out of thin air she had been plucked and installed as the President of India. Over someone who had practically helped put India in a select club all over the world!
That was probably, one of the biggest humiliations that Dr. Kalam has faced.
Even today, the ruling government has not come out in support of Dr. Kalam’s candidature. Even the other parties, which have a major say in the President’s election, have made statements that are at once both condescending as well as conveying that if Dr. Kalam wanted a second term, they would see what they could do. To quote, ‘”We don’t have any problem if Mr Kalam becomes President,” SP leader Shahid Siddiqui said today.’ (Source: NDTV)
A national treasure, surely, deserves better?
Lets face it. What does a President actually do? The post is largely ceremonial, which is made all the more redundant by the fact that the Constitution requires the President to pass unto law any Bill when it is brought to his/her attention a second time.
Perhaps it is best that someone with intellectual acumen like that of Dr. Kalam actually not take up the President’s post. He could then be his free self, educating the youth and promoting social causes pan-India. Instead of being forced to sign Bills that he does not agree with and yet is helpless to prevent its passage.
I would like to end with a small appeal to Dr. Kalam himself:
Hold not the President’s post
We need you elsewhere the most!
Ignited minds, of which you have spoken
Paths we see not, for they are broken
Guide us youth to beget our wings of fire,
We humbly ask of you, sire
Dream we do of your India 20-Twenty
Teach us students, we are aplenty!
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