"You have been appointed to meet the President on Saturday 17.8.2002 at 12.30 p.m."
New Experience, this is my first chance to meet a President at the Precidencial Palace.
I have heard that there must be a formal examination of the three gates. I said to my friends,"it would be good to go a little early".
We reached the first gate at 12.10. The guards stopped. I said my name, checking the name on the paper in their hand, then they contacted the house through the remote control device and asked for orders from inside, and the first door opened.
Same stop at the second door test- same permit.
We waited at the third door for a few hours. The the third gate was opened .
Our car stopped at the head gate of the President's House.
"The President asked to bring you". The high police officer took me alone to his room. When we reached the President's room, he hurried to the front of the room and proposed, "Vairamuthu has come."
I went in and said 'Vanakkam' to him. He welcomed, 'Vaarungal', his whole face covered in the light of laughter with curiosity in his eyes.
A Simplest leader for a Strongest republic of India! A superior man who does not allow the power or adornment of position to enter his body.
I took the Shawl that I had brought with desire. The security officer who was standing next to him said, "Give me that shawl" and smiled without moving.
"Sir! Give it? or Wrap ?" I asked the President.
"I will be proud if you Wrap it up,!" he said with a laugh.
I also gave three books namely 'Kallikattu Ithikasaam', 'Indha phookal Virpanaikalla' and 'Rathadhanam'.
He gestured the officer and staffs to leave.
The next minute everyone was disappear.
He became Abdul Kalam the next minute after sending the traditions of the President out of the room.
He got up from his private seat and sat on the another side of the sofa!
I was moved to see his noble character to respect even the simple people if he came looking for it!.
A variety of juices, biscuits and desserts came. Taking only one biscuit and wondering what to sip, he said, "Have some water."
He gifted me his newly written book. It is called 'LGNITED MINDS'. He signed it saying 'best wishes to Kappiyak Kavignar Vairamuthu with love'.
It is a rare book. In 205 pages, the twenty-first century, religion-institution-system-politics-philosophy-language, his thoughts spread like Wings Of Fire flying high without being stuck in any circle.
His writing has the intensity to express what he feels without hurting anyone. It seems to me that any change that came in between cannot destroy the original symbols of this land.
He speaks in the voice of wisdom, "Religion is an instrument of friendship for the Matured people; for others it is a weapon of strife ."
