Respected Karmayogi, you loved to be with every student
In life, your every thought and action has always been prudent
You adorned Rashtrapati Bhavan as India's eleventh President
Each and every State, and country, would wish you were its resident
You always traveled the proverbial extra mile
With no visible strain but a grin and smile
You perfected the art and might of the modern-day Indian missile
And collaborated in Pokhran tests using nuclei which are fissile
You were a philosopher, a scientist and an engineer all rolled into one
No wonder, in every nook and corner of the world, several hearts you won
You showed that stressful, goal-oriented, developmental pursuits can also be fun
And that there is nothing that our beloved nation cannot achieve, under the sun
Your life, for present and all future generations, will be an inspiration
You proved that difficult things could be achieved through perspiration
You showed respect to your mentors, through every day veneration
Showcased Vikram Sarabhai and Satish Dhawan to next generation
Amidst busy schedule, time to play traditional rudra veena, you did find
With astute leadership, powerful team of scientists and engineers, you did bind
You woke up the dormant youth power, unleashed many an ignited mind
All these you achieved, without being spiteful, but ever so gentle and kind
You imbibed the real message of Gita, Bible and Quran with ease
And put them to practice for everyone to see and live in peace
International spy satellites, during Pokhran tests, you did tease
You lived your academic and political life much like a gentle breeze
Kamal is an anagram of your surname, the seat of Goddess Saraswati
Who bestowed in you profound knowledge which also made you Rashtrapati
You toiled day and night for our beloved motherland's elevation or unnati
You wished for all amenities to reach rural areas, that too, in tez gati
You ended your every speech with a couplet of Thiruvalluvar, the poetic saint
Your life has been sparkling, blemishless and without a trace or iota of taint.
As per your wish, while educating students in Shillong, finally you did faint
As homage, a modern India on the global canvas, every Indian will strive to paint
Epitome of Indianess, Shriman Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam
Please accept each of our humble and reverential naman, salute and salam
(The writer is N Madhavan,Scientist, IUAC, New Delhi)