All Roads Lead to Rameswaram

Date: July 29, 2015

Unlike on normal days when mostly elderly pilgrims throng Rameswaram, the town wit nessed something com pletely unusual on Tuesday . A sea of young people, from all parts of the country, had come down to pay homage to former President A P J Abdul Kalam, who in spired them to “follow their dreams”.

They are in Rameswaram, ahead of Thursday’s funeral of the former President, and plan to return only after it is over. In addition to paying homage to the mortal remains of the `Missile Man’, they feel they have a job to do here. Stating that they were volunteers inspired by Kalam, they said they would chip in by helping authorities in crowd-control and also helping people arriving to attend the funeral. They included members of several youth forums and organisations like `Salam to Kalam’, which has been demanding that his birthday , October15, be observed as Indian Students’ Day. There were also a large group from `Green Kalam’, a youth organisation promoting tree plantation.

Youths from several parts of the state, including a good number from Chennai, have reached the coastal town. Some of them started their journey as soon as his death was confirmed and reached here the same night. “We are inspired by his noble ideas and humble living. We want to do the little we can do when his last rites will take place here,” said G Marimuthu, a youth from Sivaganga.These youth want to be present when their favourite leader’s last rites are conducted.

Rameswaram, which is usually bubbling with activity, was eerily quiet, as the demise of its most famous son had shrouded the town in gloom. The entire place was grieving.”He was our asset, who will we look up to now?” said Karuna, a shopkeeper. Most of them wore badges or carried black flags. Flex boards carrying portraits of the former president and his “golden words” had sprung up in every nook and corner.

The members of his immediate family were yet to recover from the shock. “All the members of the family were shocked when officials informed them about his demise. We did not expect something like this.People started calling me since 7.30pm on Monday but we rubbished as we thought it to be a rumour. We received of ficial confir mation around 9pm,” said Sheik Saleem, a grandnephew of Kalam.

An array of national leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers and chief ministers, are expected to attend the funeral. Sheik Saleem said the body would arrive here at 12.30pm and people would be allowed to pay homage till 8pm. The final rites would be conducted after 10.30 on Thursday .A search for a suitable burial site has ended as a place at Peikarumbu village has been finalised.

Free bus rides to attend funeral As the nation mourns the death of former President A P J Abdul Kalam, Parveen Travels, a Chennaibased omni-bus operator, has offered free rides from Chennai to Rameswaram -Kalam’s hometown -to those who want to attend his funeral.

Six buses -each carrying 45 passengers -left Chennai on Tuesday starting at 10am. “We will have same number of return buses on Thursday,” said president of Tamil Nadu Omni Bus Owners’ Association and managing director of Parveen Travels A Afzal.

To board the bus, passengers need not show any proof that they are indeed travelling to Rameswaram for Kalam’s funeral. “We just trust people not to misuse this opportunity,” said Afzal.

Parveen Travels has always been inspired by Kalam. “We have heard his speeches and seen the impact he has had on young minds. “We initiated a `Go Green’ project, which became his pet project. In this project, a seed was planted for every passenger who used our services,” said Afzal.

Afzal said his decision to give free rides is a small gesture to honour a `noble’ man. “My friend wanted to go to Rameswaram immediately for the funeral. Then it struck me that there will be thousands of people who would want to go to Rameswaram and we decided to roll out these buses. This is our contribution and a goodwill gesture,” he said.

News Courtesy: The Times of India | Download