In Chennai, Kalam left in the dark

The former president gets a taste of what it is to be powerless - literally as Anna University faces one of its power blues, reports GC Shekhar.

Former President APJ Abdul Kalam on Wednesday was given a taste of what it is to be powerless — literally. Kalam had to deliver a lecture on nanotechnology to Anna University students. Just as he sat down to jot down the pertinent notes after dinner, the power went out in the University's guesthouse where his quarters are located.

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There was no backup generator and the former president insisted that he wanted to complete his notes before retiring for the night.

After a couple of phone calls Kalam was moved to the VVIP guest quarters at Raj Bhavan, less than a km away. Though he lost 40 minutes in the process, he finished his notes.

Kalam's exit from Rashtrapathi Bhavan also saw the official website of the President of India (www.presidentofindia.nic.in) remove his speeches. All the features that Kalam hosted there will now be put on a new website www.abdulkalam.com.