Dr. Abdul Kalam’s Interview with Riti Bhalla

MEMORIES OF THE LATE PRESIDENT

On August 15, 2010, Dr. Abdul Kalam joined five governors and several congressional leaders of the United States as a guest on the Independence Day Special hosted by Riti Sunshine Bhalla, now a senior at New York University, but then a high school teenager when the late President of India reminisced about his memories of the day.

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, who sold newspapers at the age of 8 to supplement his family's income, eventually became a scientist and an engineer and was known as the Missile Man of India for his work on the development of ballistic missile and space rocket technology. He rose to the highest office in the nation and shared his fantastic life story with Bhalla and the worldwide viewers of her annual program, the Riti Bhalla Special. Bhalla, who interviewed 11 US governors, 22 congressional leaders, an Astronaut and several Bollywood celebrities, was fascinated by what the “Missile Man of India” had to say.

As Indians around the world mourn the loss of this great son of India, we present the excerpts of that memorable interview on the Independence Day of India five years ago.

 BHALLA: Sir, on August 15, 1947, you were only 16 years old. Where were you on that particular day? How did people react in the streets? How did they celebrate the sudden freedom of India from the centuries old bondage of British rule?

KALAM: Well, it’s a beautiful question. I was born in a small island town, Rameshwaram, and I completed my primary school education in the Punjait school. I went to a small town, slightly bigger town of course, 40 minutes away from Rameshwaram, for my high school studies. At that time only, the great event took place for the nation. My teacher, Reverend Iyer Teri Soloman, told all of our class boys they must attend midnight celebration, 15th August 1947, in the quarter angle of the school, Swatsa school. Since I was the school leader, I was asked to organize the assembly of all the students. As I recollect, two events got imprinted in my young mind. First, one flag was lowered and the great Indian tri-color flag was rising. My teacher Reverend Soloman Sir said, “Oh my students, look at the flag which has been flying for over 200 years, it indicates we were ruled. Now, our Indian flag is rising.” It was exactly at 12 o’clock midnight.

All of our teachers enjoyed. We all the students joyed. Then Pandit Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, spoke on the radio. All of our teachers and we are all the students clapped. Every student got a sweet packet, we started eating. Of course, the freedom was in front of us. My school was awake, everywhere lights, lights, lights, like Deepawali. The spirit of freedom entered in the hearts of every Indian, and manifested itself in smiles on every face.”

BHALLA: Mr. President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was sworn in as the first President of India on January 26, 1950. Did you ever think then or later that you could someday become the President of India? Please share with our viewers your rise to the highest office in the nation; how did this all come about?

KALAM: “Well, that dream was not there, not at all. My younger age dream was to fly, as inspired by my primary school teacher, Subramaniam Iyer Sir. One day, he taught us how a bird flies. The way he taught us how a bird flies led me to like something to do with flight. Of course, he injected in me an ambition that I must fly in life. After my aeronautical degree, it was a disappointment that I was not selected for Air Force. But then, I was fortunate that space program got started by the visionary Dr. Vikram Saurabai then, and I was interested with the project for the design and development of the first satellite launch vehicle for the country. That led me to my initiation into integrated missile development program. Both these programs gave me insight on putting technology, people under organization together for realization of complex missions. I was also getting exposed to some societal needs, particularly through integration of medical and engineering disciplines. Then came the exciting experience of evolving India mission 2020 with the help of great team. That led me to a life of lifetime passion of interacting with the youth. I took up a teaching assignment at Anon University on Technology for Societal Transformations. At that time, nation offered me the opportunity of serving as the President of India. I saw in this call a duty, call of duty, for me to spread the message of vision 2020 for an economically developed nation.”

BHALLA: Sir, I was born in New York but my parents originally came from India. So each year, I celebrate two Independence Days; one on the Fourth of July as an American and the other on August 15 as an Indian. What advice would you like to give to NRIs in America, in relation to their country of birth and their country of adoption?

KALAM: Riti, I am glad that you celebrate Independence Day of both USA and India. My greetings to you and your family! My advice to all NRIs, whichever country they are working and living, they should all contribute their best for the welfare of that country where they are living. Regarding their nation of origin, NRIs can share their knowledge and experience of success in life.

The message on this greatest day of the year for the biggest democracy of the world is wherever you are you can contribute to peace and prosperity of humanity as a whole which will lead to global happiness. I used to hear a hymn in my country, that message I will like to convey to the youth and the experienced India and America and other parts of the world is that of righteousness in the heart.

Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character, Where there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home, Where there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation, Where there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.

The complete interview of the late President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam with Riti Bhalla can be watched on YouTube.