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The next President
THE WAY our political parties and their leaders went about the task of choosing a candidate for the office of the President of India does not do any credit to them. The bargaining, bickerings and the manoeuvres that went on for days dragging the names of a distinguished Governor, the incumbent Vice-President and the incumbent President and the communal angle that was so brazenly pursued have left such a bad taste that the people of India who seem to be nowhere in the picture are shocked by the pettiness of their elected representatives. Though our leaders selected a person whose choice will give them maximum political mileage, they unconsciously chose a unique product of our composite culture — a person who has imbibed and who consciously adheres to the values of both Islam and Hinduism.
History has been made with the choice of a person far removed from the political jungle and who has been engaged over the years in getting the country a status and an image and a sense of security. Honours have chased this extraordinary individual and now the highest office of the land is beckoning him.
Doubts have been raised by some whether a person unfamiliar with governance and public affairs will be able to effectively discharge the duties and functions of the President. They seem to forget that in the mega feats performed by Dr. Abdul Kalam he had provided leadership of the highest quality and also earned a name as a great team man. In a way Dr. Kalam is the man of the hour. When the country is groping and the rulers are fast losing sight of what is good for the nation and the people in the next five or ten years, it is indeed fortunate that a totally dedicated individual who has a vision of the future of the country will be guiding our destiny over the next five years.
The President takes oath that he will to the best of his ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law and that he will devote himself to the service and well-being of the people of India. Incumbents of the high office with predominantly political background have rarely been able to do real justice to this oath. Others have at least been able to advise and caution the government when things were appearing to go out of control.
According to our Constitution the Supreme Command of the Defence Forces is vested in the President and the exercise of this Command shall be regulated by law. Past Presidents have treated this extraordinary power as a mere ceremonial honour. With his long association with the defence preparedness of the country one can expect Dr. Kalam to articulate the role of the Supreme Commander.
S. VARADAN
Former Secretary to the President of India
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