Dr. Apj Abdul Kalam - A Great President Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

It happened in the year of 2006.
I wrote a book entitled
"Meditation on Ahimsa"!

It was just after the 2005 floods
That left us devastated.
Every material possession in the house
Gone with the muddy, dirty water.
Broken into pieces, dissolved,
Fragmented and washed away.

When the book was printed and published,
A senior Journalist advised me
To send complimentary copies of the book
To prominent people and the press.
I followed the Journalist's advise
And posted the books to people and the press.
In all, I posted twenty five books
And eagerly waited for a response.
Days passed but sadly,
There was no response at all
Of the twenty four addresses that I sent
There was no reply or acknowledgement,
No trace at all, of what happened to the books.

I was upset that nobody replied.
Perhaps, what I wrote did not have an appeal at all.
‘Ahimsa' could not be related to modern ideas and concepts.
The press people may have rejected the book
As a book with no sensational news, story or subject.
In fact, a book seller did mention that
I should concentrate on writing
Something more exciting and thrilling.
The subject of Ahimsa was a thing of the past
Outdated and redundant, and of no interest to anyone.

Just when I was entering into a phase of depression,
I received a post.
And guess whose letter it was?
It was a letter from Dr. Abdul Kalam -
The President of India!
I just could not believe it.
My 25th book of "Meditation on Ahimsa" was
Sent to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam,
Never for a moment thinking he would reply.
But the truth is:
The one and only reply and
Response to my book was
From this great human being - Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
He did not reply through his official Secretary.
But wrote a personal letter to me! My joy knew no bounds.

He wrote:
" Thank you for your letter and sending me your book
‘Meditation on Ahimsa'. I studied the book and liked the chapter "Ahimsa - the Path of love"! (Page 27)
With best wishes to you! "

This is the same poem as " Love is all Embracing"
The first poem of mine listed in Poem Hunter.
I had changed the title in 2015 when I posted it,
From "Ahimsa -The path of love" to "Love is all embracing."

Today, the 15th of October 2019,
On Dr Abdul Kalam's birth anniversary
I recall with much gratitude,
The generosity of this great teacher,
A personification of humility.
Even while sitting on the throne of India
As the President of the country
He reached out to a small person like me
Through my humble poem on love.

I salute your spirit Sir,
May you be born again and again,
To teach the people
The value of love and compassion.