Prof Kalam has no permanent place to stay now

Chennai, July 26 (UNI) After residing for five years in the hallowed precincts of the majestic Rashtrapathi Bhavan in New Delhi as the first citizen, former President A P J Abdul Kalam, now does not have a permanent place to stay, by his own admission.

Asked where out of New Delhi, Chennai or his native Rameswaram, would he stay, Prof Kalam, interacting with the media after addressing the faculty of the Anna University here, cited the story of King Vikramaditya, who lived six months in his country and six months in the forest.

''Have you heard of King Vikramaditya'' , he said in Tamil, adding ''aaru Maatham Naattil, aaru maatham Kaattil vaazhnthaar'', and translating it in English, said ''the King lived six months in the country and six months in forest'', amidst peels of laughter from the packed audience.

Dr Kalam, who had come back to take up his first love teaching, said he would be wearing five hats. This included teaching in Nalanda University in Bihar, taking up the Chancellorship of the upcoming Space Research Institute in Thiruvananthapuram, Professorship in Anna University, teaching in Gandhigram Rural University in Dindigul and being a visiting Professor at IIIT in Hyderabad.

Dr Kalam, who formally resumed his career as a Professor in Anna University, said ''since I will be travelling around, I will not be having a permanent residence.'' UNI