How best to gauge India’s regard for A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the former president who died of cardiac arrest on Monday at the age of 83? The government’s generous gesture—seven days of national mourning—only hints at its depth. The countless ordinary Indians on Twitter and Facebook who spontaneously swapped Kalam’s picture for their own provide a more meaningful measure.
Kalam served a single five-year term, from 2002 to 2007, as India’s 11th president. He arguably left a deeper mark on the public imagination than virtually any of his predecessors. In part, this reflects Kalam’s remarkable life story and personal qualities. But it also says something about India. In a nation where public service is often tarred by greed, nepotism and high-handedness, Kalam fulfilled the vital role of an authentic national hero.
Born to a poor Muslim family in the southern state of Tamil Nadu—the future president’s father rented a boat to fishermen—Kalam started life with the odds stacked against him. But he made up for his lack of privilege with intelligence, hard work and a quiet knack for acquiring mentors.
The full text of this article will be posted Monday, August 4, 2015.
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