Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, nuclear scientist and former president of India, has died

thehindu.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 81 posts

Re: A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, nuclear scientist and former president of India, has died

#51

Post by protomyth »

kartikkumar wrote: post #42

Incredibly sad day. I had the privilege of seeing Dr. Kalam speak to a packed auditorium at the IAC [1][2] in 2007 in Hyderabad, India. Not only were a large number of conference participants present but there were about 300 school children there too. There must have been almost 1000 people in that room and there was absolute pin-drop silence. The way Dr. Kalam was able to capture the attention of young and old is so…

> The 27th of July should be a national day of recognition for his genius.

Might you want to chose 15 October since it was his birthday?

Re: A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, nuclear scientist and former president of India, has died

#52

Post by rjuyal »

throwaway6497 wrote: post #37

Don't want to bring politics here. I just could not believe why in the world why Congress/Sonia wouldn't give him second term and brought in Pratibha Patil who abused her privilege as a President ( In news for changing her portrait picture N times because she didn't liked how she looked, Taking her whole extended family > 30+ to all foreign trips, and making Rashtrapati Bhavan a guest house/extended vacation place fo…

Totally agree with you.

Re: A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, nuclear scientist and former president of India, has died

#54

Post by dang »

flipmonk wrote: post #38

Why was the fact that he was the president removed from the title? Please update to: "Nuclear scientist and former president of India, Abdul Kalam, has died"

That was our mistake. Specifying a better title is very helpful. Thank you!

Re: A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, nuclear scientist and former president of India, has died

#55

Post by throwaway6497 »

mangamadaiyan wrote: post #45
throwaway6497 wrote: post #37

Don't want to bring politics here. I just could not believe why in the world why Congress/Sonia wouldn't give him second term and brought in Pratibha Patil who abused her privilege as a President ( In news for changing her portrait picture N times because she didn't liked how she looked, Taking her whole extended family > 30+ to all foreign trips, and making Rashtrapati Bhavan a guest house/extended vacation place fo…

> Don't want to bring politics here Then you shouldn't have; but you chose to. [Edit] Your comment says nothing about Dr. AK, but instead focuses on other people and other issues that IMHO have no relevance to this thread.

I was pointing out the irony that there was no political will to make Bharat Ratna (highest civilian award bestowed by Govt of India) APJ Abdul Kalam the President of India for a second term but get a dummy president instead. APJ is a gem of a person, an educationalist, an accomplished scientist and a person who can inspire generations of Indians.

When we are talking about his legacy as a President, it pains me that we didn't extend the Presidency platform to him for another term for the betterment of India.

Re: A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, nuclear scientist and former president of India, has died

#56

Post by perfectstorm »

throwaway6497 wrote: post #37

Don't want to bring politics here. I just could not believe why in the world why Congress/Sonia wouldn't give him second term and brought in Pratibha Patil who abused her privilege as a President ( In news for changing her portrait picture N times because she didn't liked how she looked, Taking her whole extended family > 30+ to all foreign trips, and making Rashtrapati Bhavan a guest house/extended vacation place fo…

Dr. Kalam didn't want to run for a second term. He wanted to go back to his passion.

Please don't bring politics into it.

Re: A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, nuclear scientist and former president of India, has died

#57

Post by newyankee »

throwaway6497 wrote: post #37

Don't want to bring politics here. I just could not believe why in the world why Congress/Sonia wouldn't give him second term and brought in Pratibha Patil who abused her privilege as a President ( In news for changing her portrait picture N times because she didn't liked how she looked, Taking her whole extended family > 30+ to all foreign trips, and making Rashtrapati Bhavan a guest house/extended vacation place fo…

It is pretty well known that Sonia Gandhi wanted a sycophant at the position of President and she achieved that by appointing a Gandhi family cook and the least inspiring lady as the President. Even with the limited powers that the office of President has in India someone like Kalam would had never been subservient to someone like the Gandhis and instead focused his energy (like his first term) on whatever he can do to inspire youth.

Re: A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, nuclear scientist and former president of India, has died

#58

Post by newyankee »

perfectstorm wrote: post #56
throwaway6497 wrote: post #37

Don't want to bring politics here. I just could not believe why in the world why Congress/Sonia wouldn't give him second term and brought in Pratibha Patil who abused her privilege as a President ( In news for changing her portrait picture N times because she didn't liked how she looked, Taking her whole extended family > 30+ to all foreign trips, and making Rashtrapati Bhavan a guest house/extended vacation place fo…

Dr. Kalam didn't want to run for a second term. He wanted to go back to his passion. Please don't bring politics into it.

He very well wanted to run for the second term if he was elected unopposed. Go and read some news articles of the time period when the Presidential election happened.

Re: A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, nuclear scientist and former president of India, has died

#59

Post by newyankee »

jacquesm wrote: post #47
mangamadaiyan wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Don't want to bring politics here Then you shouldn't have; but you chose to. [Edit] Your comment says nothing about Dr. AK, but instead focuses on other people and other issues that IMHO have no relevance to this thread.

> Your comment says nothing about Dr. AK Actually, it does. It ranks him favorably relative to others that held the same post.

There is no doubt that S Radhakrishnan and APJ Abdul Kalam were two greatest Presidents India had who made the most impact out of a ceremonial post (and not in a political way).

Re: A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, nuclear scientist and former president of India, has died

#60

Post by ubersync »

kartikkumar wrote: post #42

Incredibly sad day. I had the privilege of seeing Dr. Kalam speak to a packed auditorium at the IAC [1][2] in 2007 in Hyderabad, India. Not only were a large number of conference participants present but there were about 300 school children there too. There must have been almost 1000 people in that room and there was absolute pin-drop silence. The way Dr. Kalam was able to capture the attention of young and old is so…

> The 27th of July should be a national day of recognition for his genius.

Slightly off-topic, but there are already too many "national holidays" in India. Added with the "state holidays", there are barely any workdays left.

Post reply on HN