At the other end of the line, the president (sensing Nair’s embarrassment), continued reassuringly, “Don’t worry Mr Nair, I know you will immediately set things right in my bedroom. What I am worried about are those houses on the President’s Estate where they may not have a second bedroom to shift to when the only one that is available leaks.” So Nair got moving, and with the help of the CPWD, the old staff quarters — until then dilapidated and neglected — were transformed into bright new leak-proof houses: in almost record time. Nair tells me that he was greatly impressed at the concern and compassion shown by the president — not for himself but for other inmates on the Presidential Estate. It has been said that no man, however great, is a hero to his own secretary or his own valet. But as with all such sayings there are exceptions — from that point on, Nair had found his hero!

Now another revelation — so far kept under wraps at Rashtrapati Bhavan (under presidential orders): In May 2006, President Kalam’s relatives from the south decided to descend on him (as relatives tend to often do). On instructions of the president they were welcomed by his staff at the railway station, and were looked after right up to the time they departed. But the Controller of Household was under strict instructions to keep a meticulous account of all the expenses incurred on behalf of the relatives — all 53 of them. Not once was an office vehicle used for any of them.

... contd.