Mysore/Mysuru: Elder Citizens Council, Jayalakshmipuram, recently hosted a special event featuring Jayaprakash Rao Puttur, former Liaison Officer and Protocol Officer of former President late Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

The gathering provided a unique opportunity to reminisce about the time he (Rao) worked closely with Dr. Kalam during his tenure as the Director General and Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister and Secretary of Defence (R&D), as well as his interactions with Dr. Kalam while he served as the President.

During his talk on “Living Values and Vision for India,” Jayaprakash Rao highlighted the profound impact Dr. Kalam had on his life and the nation. Fondly remembering the ‘Missile Man’ epithet given to Dr. Kalam, Rao praised the simplicity of his lifestyle and the respect he showed to his colleagues and their families.

Dr. Kalam’s commitment to simplicity was evident in his open-door policy at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he welcomed the public to witness the Presidency up close, he said.

While Dr. Kalam was a renowned scientist and once aspired to become a pilot, he managed to enter a fighter plane as a co-pilot and displayed extraordinary courage, setting a world record. “Dr. Kalam’s unofficial title as the ‘People’s President’ resonated in his official letterhead, which bore only his name with the care of Rashtrapati Bhavan, omitting the title ‘President of India’. His willingness to engage with MPs showcased his dedication to India’s development,” he noted.

Jayaprakash Rao used the opportunity to present his book titled ‘Kalam Jeevana Dharma,’ which he authored. Elder Citizens Council President Dr. H.M. Nagaraj, Secretary K.S. Krishna, Treasurer Prof.  Javare Gowda, Chairman of ECC Trust Gowdappa, Vice-President K.V. Ramanath, V.N. Achar, K.V.K. Naidu, Latha and others were present.