Loss for India and not for dr. Abdul Kalam

| by N.S.Venkataraman

( June 21, 2012, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Millions of Indians who want probity and transparency in public life desired that Dr. Abdul Kalam should be the next President of India.

In today’s India, Dr. Abdul Kalam has emerged as a unique person , who is now widely viewed as one who can maintain highest standards of personal integrity and ethical values in private and public life. Many persons justifiably think that Dr. Abdul Kalam would be able to elevate the standards of public life in India by being elected as President of India. The country gratefully remembers his earlier term as President of India, when he was constantly advocating the need for ethical standards in private and public life, moulding the children in healthy directions and stressed on the importance of developing scientific temper in the country. Certainly, he is far above any person in public life in India today , who may aspire to become the President.

It is unfortunate the wish of the millions of Indians would not be realized and Dr. Abdul Kalam has to announce that he would not be in the “race” for the Presidency. What is even more distressing is the uncharitable remarks being aired by a few that Dr. Kalam wanted to become the President of India and withdrew from the contest, only when he found that it would not be possible in the present political alignments.

What Dr. Kalam did was to respond to the desires of millions of Indians that he should become the President of India and he said that he would do so if he were to be elected unopposed. When this condition was not met , he decided not to contest. This is how it should be. How can one be considered for the post of President unless he would give an impression that he would accept the job ? It would be tragic if anyone would consider his expression of willingness to take up the job as a sign of his seeking the job.

Now, Dr. Kalam not becoming the President of India is not a loss to him and therefore , nobody need to think that

Dr. Kalam would need sympathy. On the other hand, Dr. Kalam would continue to guide the country men with his words of wisdom and counselling from many public platforms that would be made available to him by the concerned Indians in the coming years.

What should cause concern is the state of Indian democracy, where decisions are often taken by the politicians on matters of great public importance, unmindful of what an average Indian would think. It is particularly conspicuous that Sonia who was given the responsibility to choose the next President of India by UPA has not cared to explain to the country men as to why Dr. Kalam’s name did not appeal to her, particularly when there have been many political parties and members of the public who have been clamouring for Dr. Abdul Kalam. She has the duty to explain to the country men.

It appears that the will of the people in democracy begins and ends with the elections in India and politicians seem to think that they can take decisions based on power politics unmindful of public opinion.

India has certainly lost a glorious opportunity to have a morally upright person as President of India, who can be the conscience keeper of the nation.