Bengaluru: For Mr Jayprakash Rao, the news of Dr Kalam passing away is most shocking. He says he has lost his ‘spiritual guru’ as he was attached to the former President ever since he took up the translation work of Kalam’s biography – Wings of Fire.
The Kannada version of the book has been widely appreciated in the state, especially among the educationists. During the translation work, Dr Kalam personally spoke to Mr Rao and his family members. Mr Rao was associated with the DRDO as the head of communication during which he became close to Dr Kalam.
“The book – Wings of Fire – is an inspiration for youth. He believed that any scientific project cannot be achieved by one man, but a dedicated team. Be it a driver or a helper working in the office, Dr Kalam would inquire about all members associated with the project. It’s a shock for many of us that we are not going to be interacting with him anymore,” Mr Rao said.
Recalling his association with APJ during the translation work, he said, “Dr Kalam had once told my wife, not to give me dinner till I finish at least four pages of translation. He was such a humble person that people were surprised by his simplicity. At the guest house his demands were minimal. A plate of idli and rice with butter milk would suffice his order for the day. We had invited him for our daughter’s marriage in Bengaluru. Though he didn’t come down for the wedding, he called my family for a tea at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi a month later,” he added.
Mr Rao recalled how Dr Kalam was particularly not interested in sitting next to politicians at any gathering, but would rather choose to sit next to a scientist or an educationist.
