Rendezvous with Dr. Kalam

Today was one of the greatest days in my life. Probably anyone would feel as much elated as Iam after meeting this great man. Yes, I got this rare opportunity of meeting our president HE Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam. Somewhere in the bottom of my heart I always felt that I would meet him one day, but never ever imagined that it would materialise in a foreign nation.

Dr. Kalam was on a three nation visit to Singapore, Philipinnes and S.Korea and yesterday he arrived in this country. We got the news that he would be visiting our Samsung campus at Giheung about a week ago. Our joy knew no bounds when they told us that all the Indian engineers would be allowed to meet him. This was a special moment for everyone here. The prepartions for his arrival started a day back. The security, the presentations, the food was all monitored and rehearsed. Early this morning we saw our Indian tricolor (albiet the saffron had become pale orange in many of them) and Korean flag, 'Tae Kuk', attached to all the electric poles along side the road as mark of friendship and cordiality between the two nations.

The president was supposed to arrive at our campus at 11.30 AM sharp. However unlike any other diplomat, he arrived 10 minutes in advance. After a brief exchange of greetings, introductions and plesantries, he moved on to the display room where Samsung has showcased its technological prowess. This was the place where we were allowed to meet him. He was, all the time surrounded by his men and a hazaar photographers trying to capture his every movement.

And then the big moment came when he came to meet us. My limbs started shaking in nervousness. This larger than life personality commands great respect. The persona that he carries with him is simply great. He exchanged a couple of words with us and posed with us for photographs (the Indian embassy had ruled out any such possibilty). He was in the campus for about 90 minutes which included a 30 minutes luncheon. I will remember this meeting forever.