It was good to see our normally conservative looking President shed her long-sleeved blouses and starched saris for an aviator’s jumpsuit and get into the cockpit of a Sukhoi fighter jet. What prompted her to undertake such a feat? Surely, it could not have been just for the photo-op or to make people sit up? Is there more to Pratibha Patil than we thought? To prove that this was not a one-off stunt to get into the record books (she has become the first woman president to ride in a fighter plane!), the President should undertake tougher assignments that could make a difference to the lives of millions of countrymen and women.
Her predecessor APJ Abdul Kalam had his pet projects— bringing development to the rural areas through his Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) scheme and engaging children on various issues — and Patil, too, should think of engaging herself in activities that have an impact.
Perhaps, she could consider taking a helicopter to the Naxalite-infested areas of the country and meeting the tribes people to understand their problems. It could have a more salutary effect than sending paramilitary forces to these areas. In this day and age, it is a criminal waste to have a head of state who lives in an over-sized mansion and is engaged only in ceremonial functions that are far removed from the concerns of ordinary people.
Charu J Nayar, on email