FIRST PART

When Dr.Abdul Kalam
Was The President ,
He Visited Coonoor.
On Reaching ,
He Came To Know That
Field Marshall Sir Sam
Manekshaw Was
In The Military Hospital there.
Dr.Kalam Wanted
To visit Sam ,
Which Was Unscheduled.
Arrangements Were Made.
At The Bedside ,
Kalam Spent About
15 Minutes..
Talking To Sam &
Enquiring About
His Health.

Just Before Leaving
Kalam Asked Sam
‘ Are You Comfortable ?
Is There Anything
I Could Do ?
Do You Have
Any Grievance ?
Or Any Requirement
That Would Make You
More Comfortable ?’

SEC0ND PART

Sam Said ‘Yes ..
Your Excellency ,
I Have 0ne Grievance ‘

Shocked With Concern
& Anguish ,
Kalam Asked Him
What It Was.

Sam Replied
‘ Sir , My Grievance
Is That
I Am Not Able To
Get Up & Salute
My Most Respected
President of
My Beloved Country’.
Kalam Held
Sam’s Hand
As Both Were In Tears.

THIRD PART

But
The Remaining Part
Of The Tale
With Regarding
This Meeting Is That
Sam Did Tell APJ
That
He Was Not Paid
The Pension
Of the
Field Marshall’s Rank
Till Then ,
For Nearly Twenty
Years.

FOURTH PART

An Aghast
President Went To Delhi
And Passed The
Pension With Arrears
Within A Week
And
Sent The Cheque
Of Nearly
Rs.1.25 Crores
Through The
Defence Secretary
By A Special Plane
To Wellington , Ooty ,
Where Sam Was Ailing.

That Is The
Greatness Of
APJ.

FIFTH PART

But..
Then Sam Received
The Cheque
And Promptly Donated It
To The Army Relief Fund.

Whom Will You Salute Now..?

Indeed those real Heroes are missing today.