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New Delhi: He is a man of many sobriquets. From missile man to people’s President to rocket scientist, outgoing President A P J Abdul Kalam – who remits office on Tuesday evening – has been lovingly referred to by many such names.

Never perhaps in the history of Indian presidency has a first citizen invited so much public affection and political salutation as Kalam.

Having set countless precedents, the 12th President will perhaps be best remembered for opening up Rashtrapati Bhavan to children and making himself accessible to commoners.

‘Chacha’ Kalam’s popularity is perhaps best reflected by the moving farewell messages and the glowing tributes that have been pouring in on IBNLive.com.

Reader Anvesh Dasari puts it best in his farewell message. He writes, “Dr Kalam, you are not only a good President but also a good mentor, coach and guru for millions of students around the globe. We still want your guidance, encouragement to create prosperous India.”

Similar opinions are echoed by the likes of Mahesh Prabhu who quotes the economist-politician Kautilya from the Maurya era. “When I recall of people talking in streets as to for what reason he was not given a second term, it reminds me of Kautilya’s maxim which reads, ‘In the woods that tree is chopped first which is straight. Similarly in politics that person is sacrificed who is straightforward.” Kalam was a person who was too right and extremely just in his behavior,” he writes.

However, Prabhu also points out the two occasions on which Kalam erred. “The first and relatively unpublicised occasion was his demand that the Vajpayee Government after dissolving parliament in 2004 be substituted with a non-partisan caretaker regime. This was a gesture of improvisation, that may have been grounded in the principle of fairness but, it lacked a constitutional sanction, it was a piece of adventurism that Kalam wisely did not persist with,” he writes.

The second occasion, he says, was when Kalam accepted Governor Buta Singh’s report on the constitutional breakdown in Bihar after the first 2006 Assembly elections in the state. “However, a humiliated Kalam vowed to be doubly cautious in future and never to accept the government’s advice without an independent application of mind. He learnt from his mistakes,” he writes.

Interestingly, a large cross section of readers supports Kalam’s decision to return to his scientific pursuits. They say it will ensure India benefits from his services and the role of a visionary does not culminate with the end of Presidency. Writes Mazahar Shaik, “The thought that you will be back to scientific work gives immense pleasure and joy.

You are the inspiration for many a souls like me and will be for the generations to come.”

Echoes Brigadier N S Vasavan, “May God give you health and courage to do in the science fields what you still have been wanting to do. Please do well so that Nobel prize is bestowed on you, in the course of time.”

Chandra even offers a suggestion on what Kalam can possibly do to take India on the path of scientific progress. “You have been a great President, knowing that you got opportunity to do research again and make India proud, I would suggest you take a mission of creating a alternative fuel,” she writes.

Renuka Devi goes a step further and says Kalam should be made to head a government committee. “Kalam should head a committee to draft the developmental works of India. He should be given free hand to select the members of his choice,” she writes.

Reader Kailash perhaps sums up Kalam’s contribution the best when he says, tongue-in-cheek, that politicians cant be blamed for the “farce” that the Presidential race has been. He writes, “A great man who had a vision for India after Gandhi will be sent back home in few days. Indian politicians shouldn't be blamed because they are uneducated and unethical so how will they evaluate the value of good people. In Tamil, there is saying, "Does the donkey know the smell of camphor", means can donkey doesn't like pleasant smell of camphor. In turn, people are to be blamed by choosing those politicians in power. But at the same time, people don't much choice as they are cornered and simply have to choose either monkey or donkey. Attitude is the only problem with Indians. A P J Kalam is the best example of this attitude working right.”

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