No More Summits to Top:Kalam

Chandigarh, Mar 7 (UNI) Born to humble parents in Dhanushkodi but now resident in the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Dr Avul Pakir Jainulabhudin Adbul Kalam -- the twelfth President of India -- has found contentment.

And lobbying for a second Kalam-term notwithstanding, he is very much inclined to teach undergraduate students of Science once his tenure in the Rashtrapati Bahawan expires in July later this year.

The father of India's missile technology, Dr Kalam was very much at home after reviewing the Indian Air Force Fleet here this forenoon -- he fondly recalled his historic 36 minutes flight last June 8 in a Sukhoi-30MKI fighter plane to make a sortie and fulfil a cherished dream.

During his address on the occasion, Dr Kalam also observed that the Su-30 MKI fighter in the Indian Air Force -- with modern weaponry and electronic warfare systems -- will bring forth ''new dimensions in modern air warfare''.

So, when questioned post-Presidential Review on whether he proposed throwing his hat in the ring for a second term as President, the unflappable Kalam shot back: ''Which aircraft can I fly now?'' -- indicating thereby that there was no better aircraft to fly and no higher office to aspire to.

Though still four months remain before he retires, lobbying for a second term for President Kalam has begun. Dr Kalam -- who won in 2002 getting 89 per cent votes against Left nominee Capt Lakshmi N Menon -- is to retire in July.

While sources in Rashtrapati Bhavan say that the President has expressed his desire to return to teaching once his term expires, political manoeuvering has begun to back him for a second term.

That apart, lobbying for the technology-savvy President has also commenced on the World Wide Web.

MSN (Microsoft Network) has started an active debate ''Should Kalam get a second term?''. The voting trend has been 94 per cent ''Yes'' and six per cent ''No'' -- and the campaigners believe they will be able to mount public pressure on Dr Kalam to change his mind.

The site is not alone in the race. And almost by the minute President Kalam is getting a vote to stay on for another term in office.

'Ignited Minds' -- to borrow a Kalam title -- have joined a pro-President campaign at www.petitiononline.com with the number of signatories crossing the 242,000-mark.

The petition -- 'A Campaign to Increase the Tenure of Hon. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam as the President of India' addressed to the Government of India -- was kick-started by Pune-based NGO, Pune Nagrik Manch (PNM).

UNI