No 2nd thought, Kalam first among First Citizens

New Delhi: India's 11th president A P J Abdul Kalam packed his bags to leave Raisina Hill on Wednesday.

Hailed as the true people’s President, Kalam – in a moving farewell message – said he has had “no regrets” whatsoever during his five-year tenure as the country’s first citizen.

Avul Pakir Jainalabideen Abdul Kalam resided not just in the building called Rashtrapati Bhavan, but also in the hearts of millions of Indians.

Known for breaking the “rubber stamp” stereotype, Kalam was revered as someone who transformed India's Presidency into an institution.

So, is Kalam the best Indian President ever? Y S Rajan, eminent Scientist & co-author of the book India 2020 with Dr Abdul Kalam, Pratap Bhanu Mehta, President & Chief Executive, Centre for Policy Research, Smita Gupta, Political Editor, Outlook debated that on CNN-IBN show Face the Nation.

Was Kalam the best President ever?

Kalam was the political President in the best sense of the term, for he kept the common people in mind, says Pratap Bhanu Mehta, President & Chief Executive, Centre for Policy Research in an article.

However, Kalam’s worst critics argue that the hype around him is purely a media-created. They say that Kalam gained popularity simply because was there in the right place and at the right time.

Is the whole concept of ‘the people’s president’ disillusionment? “No,” said Pratap Bhanu Mehta.

“A lot of people have been there in the right place and at the right time, and yet they did all the wrong things. Kalam’s presidency might not have been perfect from a constitutional point of view. But his capacity to embody people’s aspirations, cut across barriers of caste, region, class and religion and embody the hopes of rising India and yet put in a word for those who are being left behind in all the symbolic aspects—was absolutely extraordinary,” he added.

Kalam was a symbolic president who embodies the aspirations of rising India. He is a vegetarian, prefers long walks to keep fit and loves to read. “Kalam faced an injury in his hand sometime back. Even then, he continued with his everyday walks. He keeps himself busy all the time to ward off unnecessary worries, “ said Y S Rajan, eminent Scientist & co-author of the book India 2020.

Constitutional Awareness

Kalam’s decision to dissolve Bihar assembly in 2005 invited severe criticism. Several questions were raised over his lack of political experience. But the very same president also vehemently supported allowing Vir Savarkar’s portrait to be put up in the central hall in the Parliament.

There was indeed something about him that was non-ideological, though he did not really understand politics. Kalam’s vision of transforming India into a developed nation by 2020 was also criticised as unrealistic.

“India 2020 was not just a dream envisioned by him. It was something that evolved from 1994 to 1995 involving 25 documents done by over 5,00 experts,” said Y S Rajan.

“I think it’s the love for the nation that drives him. Other things are corollary. He wanted to see India becoming accomplished in every field,” he added.

Kalam is an ascetic. In times when politicians are enamored of high office, Kalam did not give it much importance. He did not have a family around him. His enormous moral integrity remains unquestioned. However, there are critics anxious to prick the Kalam bubble— saying he is a hoax and a media creation.

“Kalam, in my view has been Rashtrapati Bhawan’s greatest public relations success,” said Smita Gupta, Political Editor, Outlook.

“But that doesn’t necessarily makes him the kind of visionary that the President of India should be. His whole profile rested on several myths about him being a great scientist. The truth is he was not a scientist but an aeronautical engineer. He was just a scientific manager. Even his record at DRDO was pretty controversial. His habit of giving simplistic kind of prescriptions—like a disease free, poverty free India—was very average. But did he have a vision? I don’t think he had a vision for India,” she added.

On being asked if you had to describe Kalam as India’s greatest President, how would you rate him, Smita Gupta said, “Intellectual achievements of K R Narayanan were far superior to those of Kalam. If at all Kalam had a vision it was a militaristic vision, completely in sync with the government whose nominee he was—the NDA-BJP combine.”

His oratory was not spectacular. “Kalam’s ‘vision’ is nothing but simple advertising slogans. Prescriptions, which really cater to the lowest common denominator,” she added.

Differing on this account, Pratap Bhanu Mehta said, “It’s slightly unfair to see Kalam in the light of political accuracy and acumen. Some of the greatest Presidents that India has seen were though intellectually great but never tested politically. The link between intellect and character is always a very tricky one.”

“What you need in an ideal President is a deep understanding of constitutional principles. Always remember that a democracy is all about where you are heading not where you came from. That is one simple message Kalam managed to put across,” he added.

What is so distinctive about Kalam’s vision?

His worst critics call Kalam a media creation, someone who perhaps came up with small sound bytes, which Indian electronic media loved.

“There is a lot about President Kalam that is very simplistic. But look at the political landscape around us. We have a political class that refuses to think beyond its political nose. An intellectual class that’s mired in negativity. And here comes along a man who is at least talking of a vision 2020. Lot of his ideas may be impractical. But in a sense, he raised the bar about what India should aspire for. You don’t see any other public figure capable of doing quite that. Kalam’s achievements are all the more remarkable for he raised the aspirations,” said Pratap Bhanu Mehta.

At a time when politicians are running after offices, Kalam simply was someone who didn’t care about conventions and trappings of high office.

“Kalam wanted to be a free person all the time. He is free soul simply put,” said Rajan.

Kalam certainly succeeded at ensuring the democratic process got due dignity. “I think his decision to dissolve the Bihar assembly was like skating on thin ice. He was not without constitutional blemishes, but he atleast managed to convince the people that these were at most mistakes rather than crimes of malice,” he added.

What came out was good intent and not political maneuvers and designs.

QOTD Results: Was Kalam the best President ever?

Yes: 99 per cent.
No: One per cent

Strengths and weaknesses of the top five presidents

Presidents	Strengths	Weaknesses
Dr Rajendra Prasad	Freedom fighter Enormous public adulation Stood up to the ruling party and prime minister over constitutional prerogatives	Congress politician He was the presidient of Indian National Congress in 1934 He Opposed the Hindu Code Bill
S. Radhakrishnan	A political Renowned scholar of comparitive religion and philosophy He brought western inquiry into Indian philosophy	Immersed in philosophy
Zakir Hussain	Renowned scholar Founder of Jamia Milia Islamia Tremendous statures	Too academic Remote from the people Elitist
KR Narayanan	Well versed in Constitution keenly aware of social and economic deprivation Statesman Courageous in decisions	Activist Accused of being anti-BJP and partisan Accused of being single-mindedly focussed on dalits
APJ Abdul Kalam	Chacha Kalam: The people's president Vision 2020 Scientific minded Never used his Muslim identity Great speaker Upright	Dissolution of bihar assembly Politically naive Not a constitutional expert