‘Missile man’ was denied chance to teach in Pantnagar university

BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, July 28

People across the region today paid rich tributes to former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and shared the moments spent with him during his visits to the region before and after he became the President.

Kalam had first visited the region as the adviser to the Ministry of Defence in 1993 and took part in an ex-servicemen rally near the Cantt area of the district. “Kalam persuaded ex-servicemen to change the face of the economy in the hill region by adopting horticulture and animal husbandry practices after retirement. He appealed to them that only modern animal husbandry practices along with advanced horticulture could make the Army men self sufficient after retirement,” said retired Colonel Guleria.

Dr Deepak Upreti, a Pithoragarh journalist, said Kalam during a visit to a defence agricultural research laboratory in the district stated that farming could be introduced in rocky terrain in the hill region by making holes in it and then filling these with fertile soil. “Kalam also visited Pithoragarh in 1997 and instructed the in charge of the defence agricultural research laboratory to deliver technology to local villagers so that they could become self sufficient in food production,” said Upreti, who had covered Kalam’s visit.

Kalam was also remembered by people and journalists in Almora and Nainital districts. Kalam had visited Nainital district twice in 2007 and 2011. Sources in Pantnagar University said Kalam initiated subjects of nano technology and bioinformatics when he visited the university eight years ago. “He wanted to teach in the university and the university had appointed him as a visiting professor. However, due to red tape his dream could not come true,” said Prof KP Singh, Director of Biotechnology in Pantnagar University. According to eyewitnesses, Kalam had refused to sit in a big size VIP chair that was put on the dais by the organisers at the convocation of Kumaon University. He had said until all chairs were equal, he would not sit in the special chair. “The ashamed organisers had to replace the VIP chair with a normal chair,” said Vijendra Sriwastava, a Haldwani-based journalist.

Kalam had visited Almora in 2002 and laid the stone for the Uday Shankar Natya academy near the town. “Kalam’s dream came true this year as the building of the academy was completed. Unfortunately, Kalam is no more to watch the presentation which he had cherished and expressed it before the crowd,” said Deep Joshi, a journalist based in Almora.