A LETTER FROM DR. A. P. J ABDUL KALAM TO SHANKAR D MISHRA

MY GRATITUDE TO LATE  DEAR A.P.J ABDUL KALAMJI FOR HIS FOLLOWING GENEROUS LETTER TO ME.

A SALUTE TO DR. A. P. J ABDUL KALAM ON HIS BIRTHDAY

 

O the most revered and gentlest Dr. Kalam,

Do kindly accept our sincerest Pranam.

For, thou art for us, the angelic 'Abou Ben Adhem',

A sweet, mellow fruit in proud India’s Success and Dignity Stem!

 

Thou didst prove "One can scale to an enviable acme of eminence,

Not merely because of one's Milton's imperial, or favourable ambience,

But by virtue of one’s persistent and perspiring perseverance,

Unflagging pace, unswerving toil and passive sufferance!”

 

'The Missile Man of India", thou art dotingly called,

Born with a unique flair to turn cheap brass into glorious gold;

Who is known as the young ignited India’s " the avuncular Uncle"

Who adorned the Highest Office of the country on his own mettle!

 

A true Visionary of Modern and developed India,

Whom gratefully salute the whole country's intelligentsia....!

O the great Soul! Mother India Herself is proud of thee,

For thy matchless humility, patriotism and virtuosity!

* scale to eminence – reach/attain highest state of importance

* unflagging – untiring

* unswerving – constant/ steadfast

* toil and sufferance - work hard and suffering/endurance

* flair –natural ability to do something efficiently

* avuncular – regarding uncle

* adorned - decorated

* mettle – determination

* intelligentsia – the intellectual or cultured masses

* virtuosity – talent/ skill

N.B: Late DR. A. P. J ABDUL KALAM [ 15 Oct, 1931 - 27 July, 2015) was India's 11th President.] This poem was published in the FEBRUARY ISSUE of POETRY WORLD, Chennai, India, 2011. Abdul Kalam himself was impressed by reading this poem. He had sent an e-mail to me thanking me.

©Dr. Shankar D Mishra, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India 

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