As I bade farewell today to my teacher, Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, I reminisce my short, yet very effective meeting with him in 2011 at the Toklai Tea Research guest house, Jorhat.
I asked him, "Sir, one word of advice from you!"
"Just dream big dreams and hold onto that dream. Keep that dream alive at all times! "
And that's what I have done since then and those are the words I choose to speak to young children I counsel across the Northeastern states as an Oxford University Resource person and even in remote villages in my political capacity as the Vice-Chairperson of the Minority Department of APCC.
Today, as I watched Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam's final journey, I wrote a couple of lines to pay my respects for a man I would have wished to meet once more, maybe many more times.

A BILLION PRAYERS

I cried
For the first
Time,
As you waited
To see me bid
Goodbye
To you!
You flashed that
Smile
Like you always
Did!
And told me
"I would be happier if you
Smiled!"
I wish I could!
I am heart-broken
Today!
I wish you were not saying
Goodbye!
I wish I could have met
You
One more time
Just once more
And talked about my
Heart!
I was hoping you would
Tell me to
Dream again
And hold onto that
Dream,
Like you did when I met
You
Years back!
Your words always stay with
Me!
I carry them deep in my
Heart
Wherever I
Go!
I spread your message
Among the people of
Your Nation,
My Nation
Amongst your children,
Who are heavy in the
Heart
Today!
As you lie in peace in your
Home,
You smile again and wipe my
Tears!
The wind from the sea-shore
Caress
Your silver-grey hair
And the warmth of the morning sun
Create a heavenly halo
Around you!
I know for sure now that
You're going!
The sea-gulls are crying
To welcome you
To your abode
In the
Clouds!
To your galaxy!
I know you will always be there
For me!
You turn and wave!
And as my eyes brim over with
Tears,
You disappear in the billion
Sands of time!