Vijay drew rockets, longed to meet APJ Abdul Kalam

KOCHI: Monday was a different day for the family of Vijay, the 11th standard student of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kadavanthra. Silence descended on the home as a scroll in a news channel regarding Dr A.P. J. Abdul Kalam’s condition  appeared on Monday evening.  Vijay was preparing for his studies. He couldn't focus on his studies.

A phone call from a friend of Vijay's father was picked up by Vijay  and the news was clear to him. His father switched off the TV and told Vijay to pray to God and  go to sleep. It took a long time for him to embrace sleep.

That was different from the scene two months back. It was a dream come true for Vijay when he met  Kalam on May 6  after a long wait of more than 10 years.

In 2005 he had got a congratulatory mail from the missile man for a small drawing of a rocket while he was studying in standard- I. Ten years later, he got a personal invitation to meet  Kalam during his visit to Kochi for a function after he had sent his maiden book ‘The Greek Mission’ to Kalam which he penned at the age of 13.

When the PS introduced Vijay to  Kalam saying  “this is the boy who had sent that book to you,” his immediate response was  “excellent” and he said  “I liked the chapter  ‘The Ancient Village’ the most.”  That was beyond all expectations for Vijay. And then Kalam said  “all the best to you.”

Vijay was planning to send a mail to  Kalam regarding his next project and his studies. But now he knows his friend has gone... the simplest man he had ever seen has left... he will not receive further mails from his friend. But the few moments he had with  Kalam will inspire him for long, he says.