Click to play videoRameshwaram: He is a distinguished scientist and is popularly known as the people's President who bowed out of office on Tuesday. But how about President Abdul Kalam as a style icon?
“There are many people who come here asking for a Kalam haircut. Though it is a little difficult, we do it without charging extra,” says a saloon owner, Murugan
But in Rameshwaram the Kalam cult is not just about the saloon with the Kalam cut.
The Ramanathaswamthy temple is the first stop for tourists visiting Rameshwaram. But these days there is a new must-do on their lists. The house, where Abdul Kalam spent his earlier years, has now become a tourist hotspot.
Kalam’s elder brother Muthu Meeran Labbai Maraikayar patiently poses for pictures outside his house. There is an endless stream of visitors, not only from around the country, but also from different parts of the world.
“People love and respect him, that's why they come here and visit this house,” says Maraikayar.
A tourist, Mahesh Bhandarai adds, “I really like the simplicity of the house and the president himself.”
Shehan Shah who has been driving an auto through the streets of Rameshwaram for around 15 years, added Kalam’s as a new sightseeing spot after the scientist became the President.
“People are really astonished to see that the President has such a small house, at the same time they are also very happy about it. They also thank us for showing the house,” says Shehan Shah.
So the next time you visit Rameshwaram, remember, there's more than beaches and temples to this ancient town. Many visitors are making Kalam’s small house and the saloon a part of the pilgrimage.
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