*Unbelievable:*
An interview of retired IAS officer *Shri P.M. Nair* was aired on DD Podhigai channel. He was the Secretary to Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam sir when he was the President.
With an emotional voice, here is the summary of what he said.
Shri Nair has written a book called *"The Kalam Effect"*.
*1.* Whenever Dr. Kalam traveled abroad, he used to receive expensive gifts. It is a tradition for many nations to give gifts to visiting heads of state.
To refuse a gift would mean insulting that nation and bringing disrepute to India.
So he would accept them. After returning, he would get photos taken and a list made, and submit it to the records.
He never looked at those gifts again. When he left the Rashtrapati Bhavan, he did not even take a single pencil from the gifts.
*2.* In 2002, the year Dr. Kalam took office, the month of Ramadan fell in July-August.
It is customary for the President to host an Iftar party.
Dr. Kalam asked Shri Nair, "Why should I host a party for people who have already eaten? Tell me how much it will cost."
Shri Nair said it would cost around ₹22 lakhs.
Dr. Kalam asked that the money be donated in the form of food, clothes, and blankets to selected orphanages.
He left the selection of orphanages to the Rashtrapati Bhavan team and did not involve himself.
After the selection was done, Dr. Kalam called Shri Nair to his room and gave him a cheque for ₹1 lakh.
He said, "This is from my personal savings. Don’t tell anyone."
Shocked, Shri Nair said, "Sir, I will go out and tell everyone. People should know — here is a man who donates the money meant for expenses, and also gives from his own pocket."
Even though he was a devout Muslim, Dr. Kalam did not host Iftar parties in the years he was President.
*3.* Dr. Kalam did not like people who only said "Yes Sir".
Once, when the Chief Justice of India came, Dr. Kalam shared his opinion on an issue and asked Shri Nair, "Do you agree?" Shri Nair replied, "No sir, I do not agree."
The Chief Justice was stunned. To disagree with the President so openly — that too by a civil servant — was unthinkable.
Shri Nair said, "The President will later ask why I did not agree. If the reason is logical, 99% of the time he changes his opinion."
*4.* Dr. Kalam invited about 50 of his relatives to Delhi. They all stayed at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
He arranged a bus for them from his own money. He did not use any government vehicle. As per Dr. Kalam’s instructions, the bill for their stay and food was calculated. The bill came to ₹2 lakhs, and he paid it.
No one in the country’s history has ever done this.
And now the climax: Dr. Kalam’s elder brother stayed with him in his room for a week. Dr. Kalam wanted his brother to be with him.
When his brother was leaving, Dr. Kalam even wanted to pay the rent for that room.
Imagine a President of a country wanting to pay rent for the room he lives in.
The staff felt this was too much and did not allow it!!!
*5.* When Kalam sir was leaving Rashtrapati Bhavan at the end of his term, all the staff came to meet him and pay their respects.
Shri Nair went alone because his wife had a fracture and was bedridden. Dr. Kalam asked, "Why didn’t your wife come?" He was told about the accident.
The next day, Shri Nair saw a lot of police around his house and asked what had happened.
He was told, "The President of India is coming to meet you." He came and spent some time talking to his wife.
Shri Nair says no President of any country visits the home of a civil servant for such a small reason.
Many of you may not have seen this interview, so I have given the details.
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s younger brother runs an umbrella repair shop.
When Shri Nair met him during Kalam sir’s funeral, both Shri Nair and his brother touched their feet out of respect.
Mainstream media does not show this because it doesn’t get TRP. That’s why this information should be shared widely on social media.
*Estimated assets left behind by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam:*
- 6 trousers (2 DRDO uniforms)
- 4 shirts (2 DRDO uniforms)
- 3 suits (1 western, 2 Indian)
- 2500 books
- 1 flat (which he donated)
- 1 Padma Shri
- 1 Padma Bhushan
- 1 Bharat Ratna
- 16 honorary doctorates
- 1 website
- 1 Twitter account
- 1 email ID
He had no TV, AC, car, jewelry, shares, land, or bank balance.
He had also donated his last 8 years of pension for the development of his village.
He was a true patriot and a true Indian.
Sir, India will always be indebted to you.
Instead of forwarding videos of Ambani’s daughter’s wedding, read this and forward it.
🙏
