kalam+diplomacy
The diplomat in missile man
MRITYUNJAY BOSE
"Be polite; write diplomatically, even in declaration of war one observes the rule of politeness" – Otto von Bismarck, the famous Prussian and German statesman of the 19th century had said.
And scientists can be diplomats too. Former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, the father of India's missile programme and one of the key architects of the Pokharan-II nuclear tests, had proved this time and again. Particularly, when foreign guests had called on him at the Rrashtrapati Bhavan and his visits abroad during the years of Presidency from 2002-07.
A new book 'The Kalam Effect – My Years with the President' penned by bureaucrat P M Nair, who was the Secretary to the President, has brought out many interesting facts on the life of Dr Kalam. One of the interesting memories with Dr Kalam was when Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf called on him. A day before the General was to call on; Nair informed him that Musharraf in all likelihood would raise the Kashmir issue and that he has to be prepared for the same. But Dr Kalam's reply was – "Don't worry, I shall deal with it."
When Gen Musharraf arrived in cavalcade of cars and was led to the North Drawing Room on the first floor of Rashtrapati Bhavan. "Kalam received him in state, ushered him to the seat and sat next to him. The Indian and Pakistani officials occupied their appointed places. The call began, slated for 30 minutes," writes Nair in his book. And Kalam began.
"Mr President, like India you have lot of rural areas and don't you think we should both do what ever is possible to develop them on priority?" What could General Musharraf say but 'Yes'. And then Kalam really began. "Mr President, I will tell you something about PURA very briefly. PURA means Providing Urban Facilities in Rural Areas'. The plasma screen came alive and the description of what PURA was and what it could achieve lasted a 'brief' 26 minutes.
Gen Musharraf evinced keen interest and when it was over, smiled and said, "Thank You, Mr President. India is lucky to have a scientist President like you'. Handshakes followed and adieu. "Scientists can be diplomats too," recalls Nair.
Dr Kalam also presented yet another example of diplomacy when he addressed the European Parliament following an invitation by the then President Joseph Borrel Fontelles, and when he addressed the President was Hans-Gert Pottering. "Kalam's address to the European Parliament comprising 27 nations was fixed for April 25, 2007 and he was allotted 25 minutes for the address," writes Nair, pointing out that it would be the first time when any Indian President would address the European Parliament.
Nair adds in his memoirs: "…I made it a point to tell him day after day, at the risk of being obnoxious, that he should limit his speech to 25 minutes. The overrun to the 26th minute would not exactly bring glory to him or to the nation. The Foreign Secretary, Shiv Shankar Menon, told him the same thing. Nalin Surie, Secretary (West) in the External Affairs Ministry, advised him similarly. Kalam heard them all quietly."
Nair made it a point to remind Dr Kalam once again later – when he saw the 29 page speech - to which the Bharatratna recipient replied – "Okay, okay…I will edit it don't worry, I will not exceed the time limit".
Finally the day came. The European Parliament hall in Strasbourg, France. Dr Kalam had a scheduled preliminary meeting with Pottering for about 10 minutes and then they entered the hall. There was an introduction for a minute and a half, and then the President began his address.
"Minutes ticked by. The audience rose to applaud him twice. It was close to 25 minutes and there was not sign of stopping. The PowerPoint slides kept on coming. I started perspiring. The allotted time was already over. Half an hour, thirty-five, forty minutes…. My discomfort was all too evident to anyone who looked at me. Then I heard Kalam say – 'I have composed a poem for you. This is from Mother Earth to the European Parliament. Shall I read it for you?' he said in his innocuous way. And having received assent, he read out," writes Nair.
He finished and the members stood up again and gave thunderous ovation. Forty-five minutes have gone by. President Pottering rose to thank Kalam. "We have never heard such a speech. Thank you, Mr President," was the gist of it. Later in the day, one-on-one, Nair asked Dr Kalam – "Sir, how did you chose to exceed the 25 minutes given to you? I was worried.' He smiled and said, 'You know what I did. During our introductory meeting, I told their President that you gave me only 25 minutes, but I have composed a poem for you and this may take some more time. And he said "Ok, go ahead, you may take my time too."
MRITYUNJAY BOSE
"Be polite; write diplomatically, even in declaration of war one observes the rule of politeness" – Otto von Bismarck, the famous Prussian and German statesman of the 19th century had said.
And scientists can be diplomats too. Former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, the father of India's missile programme and one of the key architects of the Pokharan-II nuclear tests, had proved this time and again. Particularly, when foreign guests had called on him at the Rrashtrapati Bhavan and his visits abroad during the years of Presidency from 2002-07.
A new book 'The Kalam Effect – My Years with the President' penned by bureaucrat P M Nair, who was the Secretary to the President, has brought out many interesting facts on the life of Dr Kalam. One of the interesting memories with Dr Kalam was when Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf called on him. A day before the General was to call on; Nair informed him that Musharraf in all likelihood would raise the Kashmir issue and that he has to be prepared for the same. But Dr Kalam's reply was – "Don't worry, I shall deal with it."
When Gen Musharraf arrived in cavalcade of cars and was led to the North Drawing Room on the first floor of Rashtrapati Bhavan. "Kalam received him in state, ushered him to the seat and sat next to him. The Indian and Pakistani officials occupied their appointed places. The call began, slated for 30 minutes," writes Nair in his book. And Kalam began.
"Mr President, like India you have lot of rural areas and don't you think we should both do what ever is possible to develop them on priority?" What could General Musharraf say but 'Yes'. And then Kalam really began. "Mr President, I will tell you something about PURA very briefly. PURA means Providing Urban Facilities in Rural Areas'. The plasma screen came alive and the description of what PURA was and what it could achieve lasted a 'brief' 26 minutes.
Gen Musharraf evinced keen interest and when it was over, smiled and said, "Thank You, Mr President. India is lucky to have a scientist President like you'. Handshakes followed and adieu. "Scientists can be diplomats too," recalls Nair.
Dr Kalam also presented yet another example of diplomacy when he addressed the European Parliament following an invitation by the then President Joseph Borrel Fontelles, and when he addressed the President was Hans-Gert Pottering. "Kalam's address to the European Parliament comprising 27 nations was fixed for April 25, 2007 and he was allotted 25 minutes for the address," writes Nair, pointing out that it would be the first time when any Indian President would address the European Parliament.
Nair adds in his memoirs: "…I made it a point to tell him day after day, at the risk of being obnoxious, that he should limit his speech to 25 minutes. The overrun to the 26th minute would not exactly bring glory to him or to the nation. The Foreign Secretary, Shiv Shankar Menon, told him the same thing. Nalin Surie, Secretary (West) in the External Affairs Ministry, advised him similarly. Kalam heard them all quietly."
Nair made it a point to remind Dr Kalam once again later – when he saw the 29 page speech - to which the Bharatratna recipient replied – "Okay, okay…I will edit it don't worry, I will not exceed the time limit".
Finally the day came. The European Parliament hall in Strasbourg, France. Dr Kalam had a scheduled preliminary meeting with Pottering for about 10 minutes and then they entered the hall. There was an introduction for a minute and a half, and then the President began his address.
"Minutes ticked by. The audience rose to applaud him twice. It was close to 25 minutes and there was not sign of stopping. The PowerPoint slides kept on coming. I started perspiring. The allotted time was already over. Half an hour, thirty-five, forty minutes…. My discomfort was all too evident to anyone who looked at me. Then I heard Kalam say – 'I have composed a poem for you. This is from Mother Earth to the European Parliament. Shall I read it for you?' he said in his innocuous way. And having received assent, he read out," writes Nair.
He finished and the members stood up again and gave thunderous ovation. Forty-five minutes have gone by. President Pottering rose to thank Kalam. "We have never heard such a speech. Thank you, Mr President," was the gist of it. Later in the day, one-on-one, Nair asked Dr Kalam – "Sir, how did you chose to exceed the 25 minutes given to you? I was worried.' He smiled and said, 'You know what I did. During our introductory meeting, I told their President that you gave me only 25 minutes, but I have composed a poem for you and this may take some more time. And he said "Ok, go ahead, you may take my time too."
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