The experience of 'not' meeting a man

THIS IS a story that I must share with all of you. As the editor-in-chief of this year’s college magazine ’Sourabh’, whose unique theme was, ’Lives Inspiring Lives’, I had to contact many achievers and ’big’ persons. One of them was the former President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. The experience I gained when I tried to contact him remains fresh in my mind. Here it goes.
This happened sometime in late February, I think. I was talking on the phone with one of his assistants, Sharma. I explained to him about the magazine, the theme underlying it and requested him to arrange a meeting with Kalam. He heard me out and then asked, "When are you examinations due?" That was odd. Now, what my examinations had to do with my seeking an appointment with Dr Kalam? Well, I said they would be held in May-June and enquired why it mattered? I wondered whether he’d next try to ascertain my marks in order to qualify for a meeting with Kalam (after all, Kalam being a very intelligent man, maybe, would meet only top scorers). Well, Sharma then clarified that Kalam had given strict orders that students’ minds should not be diverted during the examination season of February and March, simply because they were keen on meeting him. Wow! That was a great thought. I was speechless for a second. The next question that followed was, "Are you going to come to Delhi only to meet Kalam?" and I answered in the affirmative. He probed further: "You have nothing else to do here? Meeting someone or some other work in Delhi?" I said ’no’.That’s when the bouncer came. Sharma asked if I would like Kalam to visit me. "What?" I blurted out. For a moment, I was too dazed to think of anything. "Dr Kalam...Visit me...I mean how...I mean..." I just couldn’t talk. Perhaps, Sharma had been through this before and I guess he was smiling at his end. He then lucidly explained, "Dr Kalam doesn’t like students spending money just to come and see him. He wouldn’t mind meeting if you were here for some work or meeting your relatives or something like that.
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more >> He would prefer to meet you when he is in your city. And surely he would. Will that do? Can you wait for him? He will meet you." That was it. I was floored. I just didn’t know what to say. Imagine such a personality coming to meet me! The very thought was so alluring.
Indeed, if this was the humility of Dr Kalam that was reflected in his assistant, Sharma, then what Dr Kalam would be like in person? The thought that his modest persona must have infected all his people was difficult to contemplate, but yet it was true. It inspired me. In all my endeavours to meet so many people, this particular one remains as the experience of ‘not’ meeting a man. That is the iconic Kalam for you; one who inspires you even without meeting you in the flesh.
Of course, the next time he was in Pune, he did meet me (and some of my colleagues too), true to the last word as promised. And then what is my experience of meeting this man? Though clichéd it may sound, it’s a memory of a lifetime. Simply awe-inspiring, isn’t it?