APJ Abdul Kalam will be remembered as the People’s President who restored the dignity of the First Citizen, devalued at the altar of political loyalty. Disproving the notion that the presidency is only a constitutional ornament, his conduct in office convinced the nation that an active president can make a difference.
He threw open the doors of Rashtrapati Bhavan to children and the youth, igniting their aspirations. An unassuming Kalam explained to them in simple terms his vision of India becoming a developed country by 2020. His initiative in e-governance for instant access to information, missionary zeal and unquestionable integrity had won universal praise. When faced with seemingly intractable issues, he stood his ground by following constitutional advice and his own conscience.
Turning Points is primarily an account of Kalam’s years as president, though he covers the years after 1992. The reader also gets to know about the missile man’s rise to the top from his humble origins in Rameswaram. He notes that his story “echoes the concerns, anxieties and aspirations of many Indians.’’ There are details of his thoughts on energy, scientific developments, his concept of PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) and Vision 2020, a visionary president’s blueprint for transforming India as a developed country with science acting as a catalyst.
He had backed the civil nuclear deal with the US, and tried his best to allay the fears of local people over the safety of the Kudankulam nuclear plant. Despite the gloom all around, Kalam remains an incorrigible optimist. His days now are as hectic as the Rashtrapati Bhavan days.
Kalam sets the record straight on the longstanding conspiracy theory that Sonia Gandhi’s decision to renounce the prime minister’s post in 2004 was dictated by his reluctance to swear her in, due to her foreign origin. Kalam recalls that if Sonia had staked a claim herself, he would have sworn her in. He states that several parties and leaders had urged him not to appoint Sonia as PM.
He says: “If she had made any claim for herself, I would have had no option but to appoint her.’’ However, he doesn’t throw light on why Sonia waited for three days before staking the claim. Another controversial issue was his visit to Gujarat in the aftermath of 2002 riots, ignoring opposition from the ruling BJP. Other than saying that his visit was meant to provide a healing touch, the former president is silent on Narendra Modi who had accompanied him on his visits to strife-torn areas.
When the Supreme Court ruled against the imposition of president’s rule in Bihar, Kalam sent in his resignation letter as the government counsel had failed to effectively put forth the president’s views in court. Kalam had created history by returning the Office of Profit Bill to Parliament for reconsideration. He says the issue “clearly establishes how at the parliament level, practices that cannot meet the standards of public probity are not debated and reviewed with the seriousness they deserve.’’
He passionately argues for improving the effectiveness of parliament as an “institution of accountability and oversight.’’ At a time when the role of ministries has increased in governance with ministers enjoying wide discretionary powers, parliament has to become an effective voice on fiscal management, he asserts. His suggestion on vesting parliament with powers to ratify all international agreements as in other countries needs to be followed up. He favours a code of conduct for MPs.
Kalam thoroughly enjoyed his tenure as president. He is fond of directly addressing an audience. So is Turning Points, in addressing readers directly in simple style. There is never a dull moment. He recalls the incidents of his meeting with Nelson Mandela and the visit to Socrates’ Cave. On one occasion, he had made the political foes Nitish Kumar and Laloo Yadav shake hands in public, much to the delight of the crowd around them.