Reema Lokesh – Mumbai
Way back in July 2007, The Indian Express carried an interesting story on the mood that was reflected on Pallivasal Street, Rameswaram where the famous ‘House of Kalam’ stands, after Dr APJ Abdul Kalam did not get the second term as President of India. This place where the late former president was born and spent his early days, has always been receiving curious visitors, people who would stop by to meet his brother Muthu Meeran Labbai Maraikayar. Shops are named after the world famous ‘son of the soil’. In fact the story also shares an interesting fact that V Ramamurthy opened a hair salon to show his admiration for Dr Kalam. The board carrying the name of the shop also has a picture of Dr Kalam, with his distinct silver-grey hair hanging down and people wanting him to give them the signature Kalam hair-cut.
Tour operators in Chennai feel the area in Rameswaram needs to be marked out in honour of the legend. Viivekk Gupta, owner, Vinayak Travels, Chennai, said, “His funeral brought in a sea of people across all social strata. The government has to create an active centre of learning as he was only for education and teaching. As a tour operator I take pride in speaking about his story to the world and will be most certainly glad to bring in people into the small town of Rameswaram to narrate the extraordinary man’s outstanding work. I have just opened an office in the USA and I will surely invite people into the region.”
(With excerpts from the Express Archives. Jaya Menon: Rameswaram, July 9, 2007)