As part of the Campaign India eigth anniversary issue, we celebrated Newsmakers Who Headlined Our Timeline, with the headlines, perspectives and learnings. Here's the third of our eight, former president of India - Dr APJ Abul Kalam.
From the horse’s mouth
“Dream, Dream Dream
Dreams transform into thoughts
And thoughts result in action.”
- Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, former president of India, Ignited Minds, 2002
Headlines
The Hindu – June 2011
Hindustan Times – July 2015
Zee News – August 2015
Perspective
Gokul Krishnamoorthy, Campaign India, on social media reactions after the passing away of Dr Kalam, July 2015
“The former president of the country, who breathed his last while reaching out to students in Shillong, had the time to respond to an unknown fellow citizen (over e-mail). Does this tell brands anything about how they can earn respect? Or do they have to be reminded, that #KalamSir has been trending on Twitter all day? Such respect cannot be earned with a facade. It takes sincere intent, demonstrated consistently.”
Campaign View
His term as president may have ended a few months before the inception of this magazine, but the fact that he makes it to this list of news makers who defined us underlines how he has had an ever-lasting effect on us. It’s not so much his contributions in science that India knows and bows to. It’s the inspiration that he was, in words and action. He earned the love of a nation, by being himself. There could be no other way. Dr Kalam serves as a president who those following him can look up to, as they make their way into the garden of Rashtrapathi Bhavan, and a human that all of India can look up to.
(This article first appeared as part of a feature in the issue of Campaign India dated 4 September 2015)
