By Aparna Pande
This article appeared in Indolink on March 11, 2007
Americans often wonder why India has a President when the executive power rests with the Prime Minister. But the Indian President fulfills a variety of constitutional and historical functions.
An Electoral College, comprising the elected members of the Union Parliament and the State legislative assemblies, indirectly elects the Indian President. The qualifications for the office laid down in the Constitution are citizenship, eligibility to be elected a Member of Parliament and not holding an ‘office of profit’ under the government.
The founders of India and the framers of its Constitution knew that a long journey to progress awaited India. They feared that later generations may not have many role models in front of them especially since power often corrupts politics and politicians.
To retain the faith of individuals in the Indian state and in politics they devised a way. That was to have the President, the head of state, as a role model, someone who was in politics and yet not partisan. India’s President symbolizes India’s unity. He is above the fray of daily politics. He represents an ideal rather than ambition.
Over the last six decades either elder statesmen or retired government servants have been chosen President. The aim of the framers of the Constitution was a non-partisan individual who represented certain key ideals. The President was to be the ‘model citizen’; the current President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam exemplifies this role.
A nuclear scientist, a technology aficionado, a poet, and an Indian Muslim – these are some of the many identities of the current President.
President Kalam’s speeches are the key to his views. His speeches emphasize the need to be proud of Indian accomplishments without ignoring the challenges facing the country.
A poet President Kalam often refers to the classical works to put forth his views. Citing from an ancient Tamil work, composed 2,000 years ago in a speech in 2003 he said that “The important elements that constitute a nation are: being disease free; wealth; high productivity; harmonious living and strong defense.”
In a speech soon after becoming President Dr Kalam talked about his ‘3 visions’ for India. His three visions were freedom, development and democracy.
“In 3000 years of our history people from all over the world have come and invaded us, captured our lands, conquered our minds. Yet we have not done this to any other nation.. Why? Because we respect the freedom of others. For fifty years we have been a developing nation. It is time we see ourselves as a developed nation. We must be strong not only as a military power but also as an economic power. Both must go hand-in-hand.”
President Kalam is a nuclear scientist and technology aficionado. Soon after becoming President in every speech he gave he talked about the need for India to build its technological and economic strengths. Like Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen he believes that Information Technology can do a lot for India and Indians.
President Kalam would like the various Institutes of technology and centers of learning to “establish a platform for the youth to carry out higher learning and advanced research and development in information and software technologies in the areas of societal, scientific, industrial and financial applications.”
The President’s dream project is PURA or Providing Urban amenities in Rural Areas. For President Kalam it is the way to create rural wealth and prosperity. The aim is to create a habitat for improving the quality of life in the rural areas and reduce urban congestion. For President Kalam this forms part of his dream for ‘total connectivity’ in India, both rural and urban.
Total connectivity has three aspects – physical, electronic and knowledge-based. Physical connectivity means setting up roads, rail and air networks throughout the country and ensuring that every village or habitat has an all-weather road. Electronic connectivity means providing a reliable communication network. This also includes providing high bandwidth connections in rural and urban areas. Knowledge connectivity refers to improving the educational system, both elementary and higher level education. The setting up of professional and vocational training centers is part of this vision.
The way to achieve these goals is to have a national movement of development in which every citizen would participate.
In his speeches President Kalam always asks the youth to do something for their country. His favorite line is “Got 10 minutes for your country?” President Kalam says it is easy to criticize but difficult to offer a constructive solution for the problem. President Kalam constantly reminds us that “We go to the polls to choose a government and after that forfeit all responsibility. We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative. I am echoing J.F. Kennedy’s words to his fellow Americans to relate to Indians…..’Ask what we can do for India and do what has to be done to make India what America and other Western countries are today.’”
For President Kalam the solution lies in India’s democracy, as democracy gives everyone an opportunity to strive towards economic prosperity. For him conflict is inversely proportional to a nation’s prosperity. Maximizing India’s prosperity would in turn minimize her regional conflicts.
Inspite of all his accomplishments and his present post as the head of the Indian state President Kalam remains at heart a very humble person. On retiring from Presidency he plans on returning to his alma mater, Anna University’s Madras Institute of Technology and teaching undergraduates.
There are some Presidents we remember long after they are gone and others whom we do not. Yet the post of the President still fulfils the basic role laid down by the Constitution.