Missile Man Cruises Into Indian Presidency

A popular scientist known as the Missile Man and famous more for his informal dress sense than his political experience was elected president of India yesterday.

APJ Abdul Kalam, a quirky former academic and civil servant respected for his humility, earned immense popularity in India for his role as the father of India's missile programme and his involvement in the country's nuclear tests in May 1998.

Dr Kalam, 70, is also a Muslim in a Hindu-dominated India.

The ruling party hopes his election will paper over the deep cracks caused by the appalling religious bloodshed which has claimed more than 2,000 lives in the state of Gujarat this year.

Yesterday the new president gave no sign that he would trim his thick, shoulder-length grey hair or rethink his wardrobe, which currently favours short-sleeve shirts and flip-flop sandals. Instead, he said, he would concentrate on a new vision for India.

"I am indeed delighted to get elected as the next president," he said. "India has to be transformed into a developed nation. It means a poverty-free nation, a prosperous nation, and a healthy nation with value systems in which our children will live happily."

Dr Kalam glossed over his lack of political experience and said that during his 20 years running India's rocket and missile programmes he had worked with six different prime ministers.

The fact that he has no political background may in fact appeal to many Indians, who have witnessed years of governments filled with corrupt and often inept politicians.

From next Wednesday, when he is inaugurated for a five-year term, Dr Kalam will officially be in charge of India's million-strong armed forces, but his role will remain largely ceremonial. His most important job is likely to be resolving the many disputes between rival political parties.

National elections are due in two years and if, as seems likely, no one party wins a majority, the president will have to step in to help form a government. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, India's prime minister, is doubtless hoping his selection of Dr Kalam will be rewarded with potentially crucial support at the next elections.

General Pervez Musharraf, the president of Pakistan - which came close to war with India recently - issued a statement to Dr Kalam saying: "I hope to work with you for the establishment of tension-free relations between our two countries, as well as resolving the differences that stand in the way of normal bilateral relations."

Dr Kalam won a big majority of votes cast by national and state politicians in the presidential poll. He had only one rival candidate, Lakshmi Sahgal, 87, a woman activist and a former member of the Indian National Army which fought for independence from British rule.

The government's first choice for the job, PC Alexander, a state governor and a Christian, dropped out after failing to win opposition support.

Dr Kalam espouses a broad approach to religion and rarely describes himself as a Muslim. He is known for being able to recite with ease from Muslim and Hindu holy scriptures. He is a vegetarian and is unmarried.

His background has also endeared him to India's many millions of poor people. The country's new president is the son of an illiterate boatman in Tamil Nadu, and started his education at a village school. He got a degree in aeronautical engineering and rose to the top of his profession. He now strongly advocates a scientific education for children.

Asked who would act as his first lady, he waved away the question saying, "No, no, I'm a brahmacharya " - the Hindu word for someone who has given up worldly pleasures including sex and marriage.