It was the quintessential “People’s President” speaking, when A P J Abdul Kalam on Tuesday addressed the nation one last time in his official capacity, referring to his meetings with commoners, scientists and Army men to define what a developed India would mean.

Speaking at length about his dream to see India as a developed nation by 2020, Mr Kalam said the country would achieve this status by reducing the rural-urban divide to a “thin line”, giving equitable distribution and adequate access to energy and quality water to all, and having agriculture, industry and service sector work together in symphony.

In a developed India, education with value system would not  be denied to any meritorious candidates because of societal or economic discrimination, the best of health care would be available to all, the governance system would be responsive, transparent and corruption free, and poverty would be totally eradicated, illiteracy removed, crimes against women and children absent and none in the society feel alienated.

A developed India would be a “nation that is prosperous, healthy, secure, peaceful and happy and continues with a sustainable growth path” and also the “best destination for the most talented scholars, scientists, and investors”, he said.

Calling his tenure as “five beautiful and eventful years in Rashtrapati Bhavan”, Mr Kalam said he enjoyed every minute of his tenure that was enriched by the “wonderful association from each one of you, hailing from different walks of life, be it politics, science and technology, academics, arts, literature, business, judiciary, administration, local bodies, farming, home makers, special children, media and above all from the youth and student community who are the future wealth of our country”.

Particularly referring to a question by a young school girl from Haryana asking him why India could not a be a developed country before 2020, he said, “This question reflects how the desire to live in developed India has entered into the minds of the youth. The same feelings are echoed by over 15 lakh youth, whom I have met so far and who represent the dream of the 540 million youth of the nation.”

Referring to the agriculture sector, he said, “Meeting the scientists and the farmers has given me the confidence that the nation is poised to increase the agricultural GDP growth by at least four per cent % per annum through the partnership of farmers and agricultural scientists and industries particularly for value addition.”

Mr Kalam, during his speech, made it amply clear that he drew inspiration from his nationwide tours, particularly from meeting with children in earthquake-hit Jammu & Kashmir in 2005 and people in Tsunami-hit Car Nicobar Islands in the same year.

The Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces recalled his trips to the Siachen, INS Sindhurakshak submarine and the flight on a Sukhoi-30 fighter. “In these three experiences, I personally felt proud of our ever vigilant soldiers, sailors and air warriors performing their tasks beyond the call of their duty even in the most-adverse circumstances natural and man made,” he said.

For a man who sought to ignite a million minds by directly interacting with people across the country in person and through emails, it was only but natural to sign off his last Presidential address with a stanza written by American song writer Ned Washington and used in the 1940 Walt Disney movie “Pincchio”:

“When you wish upon a star,
Makes no difference who you are,
Anything your heart desires,
Will come to you”

And yes, he did not forget to add that even as he demits office, “I will be always with you, dear citizens, in the great mission of making India a developed nation before 2020”.