FIRSTPOST YOUSPEAK
Wednesday, May 22nd 03:47 AM IST
 

Kalam was right to have not contested the Presidential poll

Defending the motion

Anant Rangaswami

Here’s the picture of APJ Kalam that I have in my head: The best president that India has had, the most educated and intelligent president India has had, an achiever in his own right, a patriot by demonstration, a man of great humility and a great understanding of the needs of society. Most importantly, he was apolitical and universally held in high esteem. He was, to me, a man of simple needs and wants. If he had contested the election, he would no longer universally be held in high esteem. The moment he would have been backed by a few political parties (and not elected unopposed), he would have ceased to be apolitical. Finally, I ask myself? Why would he want this? He has been president once. Why would he want to be so again – unless the motive is selfish? If he had done so, he would no longer have been a man of simple needs and wants.read less read more

Against the motion

Arun George

India’s presidential poll is usually a sedate affair that passes by as unnoticed as the predictions by the meteorological department. But this time it’s different. For a change people are interested in whom they want as the President of India and their choice should be respected. There’s a reason why Mamata Banerjee took to Facebook and the BJP is speaking about the candidature of APJ Abdul Kalam. Because they understand the popularity he enjoys among people and the number of them who want him back at the post. Kalam is respected, a popular figure and knows his way around Rashtrapati Bhavan, politically and in terms of its layout as well. There is little more that we can seek from a prospective President of India and perhaps was a good enough reason for him to contest for the post.read less read more