On the morning of July 25 2007, as they travel from Rashtrapati Bhavan to Parliament House to hand over the baton to his successor, A P J Abdul Kalam will sit at the left rear door of the Presidential black Mercedes the President-Elect Pratibha Patil will sit on the right side in the same car.

On their return to Rashtrapati Bhavan after taking oath, they will exchange seats, signalling the change of guard atop Raisina Hills.

On Wednesday, Ms Patil will first meet Mr Kalam at Rashtrapati Bhavan library. The outgoing and the incoming Presidents will be given a joint salute by the Presidential Body Guards.

Subsequently, the ceremonial cavalcade will start from Rashtrapati Bhavan as1000 soldiers line up on both sides of Rajpath.

After the oath taking, Ms Patil will exchange her chair in the Central Hall with the outgoing President, while 21 guns render their salutation.

Mr Kalam and Ms Patil will both return to the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan in the Presidential Merc, following the new seating arrangement.

They will then receive a joint guard of honour by 150 soldiers collated from three services. The commanding officer will be Col Pindharkar from the 6 Assam regiment.

Accompanied by nine outriders (soldiers driving motorcycles), Mr Kalam will leave his residence. He will shift to a single-bed room army guest house — at 26, The Mall, which is being readied by the army chief Gen J J Singh.
The former missile technologist will then fly in an Indian Air Force VIP plane to Tamil Nadu where he will give lectures in Anna University, Chennai and Gandhigram Rural University, Dindigul, besides meeting his family members in Madurai, Dr Y S Rajan, one of the President’s close aides, told Deccan Herald.

The ‘People’s President’, who had said that he would leave the President’s House with only two suitcases, will continue to stay in the army accommodation till his new duplex house at 10 Rajaji Marg is ready.

Address to nation
President Kalam will address the nation on Tuesday.

The address will be telecast by Doordarshan from 7.00 to 8.00 pm.  It will also be broadcast on all AIR stations in English followed by Hindi from 7.30 pm onwards.

A simple rasam, sambar dinner
New Delhi, ians: Tomato rasam and drumstick sambar — the endearing simplicity of the man about to leave Rashtrapati Bhavan with two suitcases was demonstrated through his choice of food at the farewell dinner hosted by the prime minister on Monday.

A P J Abdul Kalam also likes appam and vegetable stew. Officials of the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) know that, and they ensured there was plenty on the Hyderabad House banquet table, along with a variety of pickles — from ginger to palmyrah fruit.

“We wanted to make it a memorable dinner for the president and we have ensured he is served the best of dishes,” said the ITDC official in charge of catering on Monday evening.