Published: Jul 29, 2015, 12:49 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 29, 2015, 12:49 PM (IST)
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s demise has left a huge void in the nation that saw him as the President in between 2002 and 2007. Tributes have poured in from all corners of India and condoling the death of Dr Kalam, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly recalled his interactions with the great man. [Read: Sehwag, Dravid, Ganguly and others from Indian cricket with APJ Abdul Kalam]
Ganguly, who was the captain of the national side form 2000 to 2005, received the Padma Shri from Dr Kalam who was known as ‘Missile Man’ in 2004. His death left an impact on the Ganguly who paid respect to Dr Kalam by changing his WhatsApp profile image to that special moment in 2004. [Read: Tendulkar, Kohli, Raina and Rahane join hordes of Indian cricketers to pay their last respects for Dr Kalam]
In a report from PTI, Ganguly said, “I have put it [Kalam’s picture with himself] on my WhatsApp. I think when we came back from the World Cup in 2003, we met him. I had the honour of having quite a few interactions with him. I got the Padma Shri from him [2004] and the moment you met the gentleman you could see that he was one of the most down-to-earth person.” [Read: Sachin Tendulkar joins PM Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee in paying homage to Dr Kalam after the body is flown to New Delhi]
Hailing his contribution to the younger generation, Ganguly added, “Hugely educated, he was the science wizard and the man for the masses. As all of us have to go in life, all of us have our numbers written, but it’s how you go. And because of the way he served the country, because of the way he contributed to the younger generation, to the students, he will live forever.” [Read: India A, Australia A wear black armbands in memory of Dr Kalam]
Talking of Dr Kalam’s limited knowledge of cricket, Ganguly recalled an incident, “I remember he wished the team. I remember Anil Kumble asked him about his subject. He knew little about cricket and we tried to explain to him how 11 men move around a cricket ball. But whenever we met him we realised that his world and thinking was different. He has become the President of India but his thought process is different from the others.”
Dr Kalam was 83-years-old and passed away in Shillong after suffering a cardiac arrest while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management. He will be laid to rest in his birthplace, Rameswaram, with military honours.
