Rameswaram: Marram’ Ayappan (42) from Pachapalayam Pudur village in Tiruppur district sells samosas outside schools for a living, but his real passion is to plant saplings. Inspired by the late president Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam, he has planted 1,200 trees in schools in the last one year alone.
To pay tributes to Dr Kalam, whom he considers a ‘demigod’, Ayappan distributed saplings to people at the Kalam memorial in Pei Karumbu in Rameswaram on Wednesday. Inspired by the ‘Missile Man’ who ignited the minds of youths, thousands of people from various parts of the country converged at Pei Karumbu to pay homage to Dr Kalam during his first death anniversary.
“Though I have been inspired by Kalam’s advice to plant saplings, it did not occur to me until I witnessed a student fainting in the school. After providing first aid to him, I enquired whether he fainted because he had not taken any food, the boy told me that he can’t withstand the hot sun,” recalled Ayappan who was found advising youths at the memorial about the importance of saplings. The boy’s words had made Ayappan realise the significance of Kalam’s advice. Since then, he have been visiting the schools in his area and planting trees.
Once every hour, Ayappan paid tribute to Dr Kalam’s bronze statue, which was unveiled today by Union ministers. The visitors were once again inspired by Dr Kalam’s vision after looking at Dr Kalam’s statue standing tall at the entrance of the memorial welcoming the visitors. His statue casts a tender light that radiates a sense of holiness and wholesomeness in Rameswaram.
A few metres away from the statue, a group of college students from Chennai was found praying silently at his memorial for 15 minutes. “It was only after listening to the speeches of Dr Kalam, we realised the importance education. We have taken oath in the memorial to serve the nation to fulfil his vision,” said the students.
“You may wonder why we had come all the way from Chennai to pay homage. Can you point out any one public leader in Tamil Nadu who is doing selfless service for the welfare of youth,” asked Rajendran, an engineering graduate.
Samymalai Vimalnathan (50), Thanjavur District Farmers Protection Association along with members, removed the encroachments into seven water bodies in Kumbakonam after listening to Kalam’s advice. When Vimalnathan and other famers complained about the Cauvery water dispute when Dr Kalam visited Sastra University on April 5, 2015, he advised them to first focus on safeguarding the local water bodies in the district.
“Based on his advice we had launched a campaign during Independence Day, August 15 among the people to remove the encroachment and renovate the water bodies. This year we have planned to save 20 more tanks,” he said.
Arun Kumar, who came along with his family from Tiruchy, believes it is possible to reform the younger generation only through Kalam. “After Hindu reformer Vivekananda, Kalam is the only person who has ignited the young minds in the country. I brought my three-year-old child Kaniska to the memorial to teach her about his values,” he said.
An intelligence police Inspector from Madurai, posted on duty at the memorial, said, “I am blessed to be here today. I was contemplating to take leave to pay homage,” he said, adding that without Kalam’s contribution India could not have conducted the Pokhran nuclear test. People from various parts of the State keep visiting the memorial till the evening. The youths also organised a rally from Pambam bridge to the Kalam memorial.
