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These words from Mitch Albom’s book Tuesdays with Morrie are so true. The strength of a relationship – be it love, friendship, or any other – doesn’t dwindle with death. The memories that were created previously in life linger for long, and it makes the presence of that person still felt, still so prominent in life. It holds true for the relationship between a teacher and his student as well. The lessons that have been taught stay for long, and with them, I do not feel that that person has truly gone.

It was a sad day when APJ Abdul Kalam left this world for heaven. For a long time that day, I felt a void. Then I realized, he lives on through his books. Till his final breath, he stayed true to his path. He had taught in life, and his final moments came as a teacher too. Non-fiction is not my cup of tea, but his books, they are an exception. When this book was released, I knew it’d make its way to my shelf sooner or later. And thankfully, it was sooner.

“My message, especially to young people is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, courage to discover the impossible and to conquer the problems and succeed. These are great qualities that they must work towards.”

His words on the back cover are but an inkling of the wisdom in this book. Essays, speeches, poetry, tributes, the book has it all. The blurb said it’d be like journeying through his life in its entirety. I do not know if this book encompasses entirety, but it feels surreal. I have this tendency to imagine what I read. Imagining that I’m hearing APJ speak as I read his speeches, that’s an experience I can’t put to words.