Professor Satya Narayan Misra* in Bhubaneswar, October 16, 2025: There are many epithets used for Dr Kalam: Inspirational, People’s President, Peerless Scientist; but for me he will remain sui-generis, a gentle colossus. He had long unkempt hair and lived like an ascetic; possibly trying to combine Einstein with Mahatma Gandhi. I spent three Delhi winters as his finance gate keeper. He was no easy boss to work with as he does not take No for an answer. If you say No his proposals, he would say: You are funny fellow. He expected his close colleagues to work 24/7. Being a bachelor, he possibly took everybody to be in his boat! Here are a few reminiscences and nuggets which will capture rare facets of this unique son of India.

He had a rare trust in his close associates, who he will defend no matter what the odds are. I recall his rare brush with the Public Accounts Committee (1996) who had selected an audit paragraph castigating a missile laboratory severely of a dodgy purchase. He made a brief intervention & said, what is of utmost priority for him is that India improves its self reliance in critical technology significantly. For him what are at stake are the faith of his countrymen that he will deliver and the trust of his associates who work for the success of these strategic programs unflinchingly. He will neither betray the country nor let down his fully dedicated associates.

Kalam was a blind acolyte of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and space was his first odyssey in life. I noticed in 1995 that the blazer that he was wearing had patches all over and looked completely frayed. When I asked him as to why he was not going for a change, he recounted how it was gifted by Sarabhai when he was going to the USA for the first time during winter. He said in Delhi’s blustery winter and its mercurial men, he feels very assured in this sartorial protection and the warm feel of his mentor at the back! When I interviewed him in 2011 for my book on India’s Offset Policy and Self Reliance, I saw the same blazer and the glint in his eyes connected us to our old conversation! Of frayed fabric and unbroken link with his mentor.

Kalam had the habit of getting interesting paper cuttings from the colleagues every day. He used to send them back next day with his illegible scribbling. Once my son sent him (1996) an article on how the Oliver Ridley Turtles were dying in great numbers during missile test firing at Chandipur. The cutting came back a week later with a typed reply which said “Science & nature have to coexist. We have decided to stop test firing during the breeding season; it’s a suboptimal solution; hope you will bear with us”. Dr. Kalam came to my office in 2010 when I introduced Spandy to him; he said “Oh, the Ridley Turtle Guy”!

Kalam, even before became the President, had a wonderful global connect. I recall how one of our Industrial Employees from NSTL, Vizag during a test firing in the Cavitation Tunnel at Kirghizstan; lost his life. It was a Saturday & our Ambassador had thrown up his hands saying that the body can be sent to India only on Monday. Kalam came to know of it while in midst of a meeting. He recalled that the Prime Minister of Kirgizstan was possibly Dr. Apas Jumagulov, a Professor of Physics whom he had met in Moscow in 1988. Lo & Behold the connection worked real wonders and the mortal remains of a modest industrial employee came in Kirgy PM’s aircraft, reached Vizag in few hours’ time. Kalam was there to receive the casket. No wonder he is called the People’s President.

Dr. Kalam had two dreams; one to improve India’s Self Reliance Index (SRI) in Defence Acquisition from 30% to 70%, and to “Provide Urban Amenities to Rural Areas” (PURA). We have hardly moved on the first mandate. He told me during our interaction in 2011 that there is a lack of political will for self reliance. As regards PURA the Socio Economic and Caste Census (2011) is adequate testimony to the dismal picture of our rural landscape; where 70% are in casual employment, 36% are illiterates and only 4% have access to credit through Kisan Card. For Gandhi, India lived in the villages. Kalam shared the same passion and vision.

Kalam lived a very frugal life, was extremely erudite; he went to the Rashrapati Bhawan with two suitcases, and left it without any additional weight. Indians of every hue tried to reach him; parents with the painting of their children; poets with their musings and the marginalized with their outstretched hands which he clasped warmly. He walked briskly, often out pacing youngsters like us. In a sense he brought visions of the Dandi March! It was, therefore, ironical to see that he had to be helped to get up at Shillong, breathing his last.

Dr. Kalam never wore his religion on his sleeve; nor did he flinch to call a spade a spade as he did in the ‘office of profit’ bill case. I have seen better scientists like Dr. Raja Ramanna, more eloquent speakers like Nani Palkhiwala. But purely as a human being and leader, he had few peers. Otherwise you won’t find a photograph where the most venerated Air Force Officer Marshal of the Air, Arjan Singh at the age of 96 would rise from his wheel chair to salute the mortal remains of this great son of India.

Prof. Hiren Mukherjee, a trenchant critic of Nehru, called him “A gentle colossus”. The same epithet can be used for Dr Kalam. He used to say: An ignited mind is more powerful than anything over the earth, on the earth and below the earth. He masterminded the missile programme, the LCA & nuclear submarine program. I felt proud when during Operation Sindoor, the short range indigenous Ground to Air Akash Missile repulsed the drones, and the Brahmos cruise missiles produced as Joint Venture with Russia could wreak havoc to Pakistan’s air bases. For Kalam collaboration with best global manufacturers & design houses will help in bolstering our self-reliance in critical technology.

• Prof Misra was Director (Finance) in DRDO (1995-98) when Dr Kalam was Scientific Advisor to Defense Ministry