9:23 PM | S Anand |
From what his family and neighbours think of him, Abdul Kalam comes out a simple and unassuming man. But will these characteristics suffice in a President?

9:17 PM | S Anand |
This one's funny. The Lover's Organisation for Volutary Exhibition (LOVE) in Calcutta protested that President is a bachelor. (So is the Prime Minister. That worried them too.) (Avanova)


Incidentally, LOVE has been been up to some interesting things. Like reviving love letters through SMS (BBC). Campaigning for free love zones (BBC). Organising a "kiss and hug" protest on March 26th (CNN) to demand the same. Not bad ideas, mind...

9:05 PM | S Anand |
Little Neha wrote to Dr. Kalam, asking for help with her elocution competition at school. Not only did she get help, she was also invited to the President's swearing in ceremony. (Gulf News). So were 99 other children. (Hindustan Times)

5:32 AM | S Anand |
Now that we need a Vice President, politics is back in action again. (Gulf News)

10:25 AM | S Anand |
Is Dr. Kalam's ascendency to Presidency a sign of social mobility in India? Asian Times uses this and other examples to demonstrate upward mobility through the democratic process.


I tend to agree. I remember when "a humble farmer" had become Prime Minister, a friend of mine remarked, "Now I have full confidence. I can become a Prime Minister too." Jokes apart, guess social class is not a showstopper in politics.

10:19 AM | S Anand |
From Paknews: "... the architect of India's nuclear missile arsenal and considered 'mad scientist' who triggered nuclear arms race in South Asia..."


I suppose it would be a little scary. We were almost on the brink of a war, and now we have a President who headed the nuclear programme. Similar thoughts are all but voiced on the Washington Post.

8:44 PM | S Anand |
Dr. M Vidyasagar offers his personal reminiscences of Abdul Kalam. Dr. Vidyasagar is an EVP at TCS, Hyderabad.

8:38 PM | S Anand |
Biographies of Abdul Kalam are posted at IndiaInfo, Murali's personal website and at siafdu at Geocities.

8:30 PM | S Anand |
In his first few days as President, Abdul Kalam has visited memorials, visited school children, hosted lunches, witnessed a controversy and attended a funeral. Is that all a President's supposed to do?


Well, he did appointed 3 high court judges. But surely Dr. Kalam's role goes further? I wonder what he thinks he could accomplish, as the President? Realistically...

5:10 AM | S Anand |
Abdul Kalam is an aeronautical engineer, not a scientist. His contributions have been more towards R&D project management. Reason, perhaps, for him to make a better President than a scientist would (The Strait Times).

4:51 AM | S Anand |
What's the Muslim community's reaction to Abdul Kalam's appointment? Dr. Rafiq Zakaria asks What's Muslim about Kalam? The article has led to a lot of interesting reactions (via Google).

4:42 AM | S Anand |
This article on Rediff takes a look at the influences behind the Presidential choice. Suggests that Krishna Kant died broken-hearted (soc.culture.indian).

12:39 PM | S Anand |
Rediff has a comprehensive coverage on Abdul Kalam's route to Presidency. I have tried to duplicate the same with clippings from the rest of the web, leading up to the nomination.

12 May	With the NDA backing BJP, the search for a new President is on. (The Tribune)
16 May	Abdul Kalam's name is voiced by individuals... (The Hindu)
17 May	...and by groups. (e-mail)
18 May	Mulayam Singh Yadav suggested Abdul Kalam's name to the Prime Minister (The Hindu)
20 May	Various names are discussed. (Kalam, Hegde, Narayanan)
22 May	BJP pushes for the Vice-President's post, leaving the President's seat open for other parties (Telegraph India)
23 May	Samata Party pushes for Abdul Kalam. (Tribune India)
26 May	BJP finds Abdul Kalam's name in strong reckoning. (Tribune India)
30 May	Narayanan, Alexander, Karan Singh and Abdul Kalam are in the race. (Deccan Herald)
3 Jun	Public support for Abdul Kalam flows in. (The Hindu)
5 Jun	Narayan drops out. Only two serious contenders: Alexander and Abdul Kalam. (The Hindu)
8 Jun	Abdul Kalam appears disinterested. (Frontline)
10 Jun	Vajpayee nominates Abdul Kalam (The Tribune, The Hindu).
11 Jun	Most people are happy. (BJP, Shiv Sena, TDP, SP, Kalam).
11 Jun	But some are not. (Opposition, Congress, Narayanan)

After this point, you're best off following Rediff's coverage.

10:28 AM | S Anand |
Abdul Kalam was sworn in as President on Thursday, 25th July 2002 (BBC, Express India). The transcript of his speech is here.

10:07 AM | S Anand |
Abdul Kalam's autobiography, Wings of Fire (available at Amazon, Fabmart) has received some very good reviews. Outlook and Hindustan Times among the publications, and from Gangan Prathap, Demicom and Indbazaar among others.

7:07 AM | S Anand |
I sat this morning, wondering what a good project on the web could be. Suddenly, it struck me that India now had someone to talk about: Dr. Abdul Kalam. I SMSed Kalidas, another admirer, and he was enthusiastic. Here's where we are.

The point is to find interesting nuggets of news and information related to Dr. Kalam. And we'll post as often as we're able to. Wish us luck!