APJ rocks FB as ignited 'Like This' people go into a frenzy

Dr Kalam during his early days as a rocket engineer in Thumba. Photo: APJ@FB

By Anantha Krishna M
Express News Service

Bangalore: The 'K-missile' hits the target! As expected, former President A P J Abdul Kalam is likely to overtake some of India's biggest inspiration icons on Facebook, soon. Barely a day after he hit the FB, thousands of his 'devotees' across the world are thronging the 'original Kalam' fan page (www.facebook.com/OfficialKalam), with many profusely thanking him for embracing them on the web.

With just over 1000 followers during its silent trial run period, today the 'Like This' community is breaking all records by the minute, after the official announcement. His office says that the new-kid-on-the-block is enjoying every bit of FB, checking the comments randomly and giving strict instructions to police the page constantly. Interestingly, the latest post which is being 'commented, shared and liked' by the FB clan is an Express report – APJ Gets FBied.

So far, he has 10 posts including a photograph dating back to the Sepian era, when he was a rocket engineer. “Assembling one of the earliest test rockets of ISRO at Thumba, some four-and-a-half-decades-ago. We did not have computers, not even proper calculators. Everything was on slide rule calculations, and surprisingly accurate it was,” says Kalam.

From topics ranging from stinking bus-stands, poverty, agriculture, power-cuts, corruption, missiles, jets to Chennai's Koovam river being posted and commented by the 'Like This' people, the mission-man is said to be watching and enjoying his baby steps on FB. “We want to keep the FB page in one uniform language (read as English), so that everyone gets to read, understand and give appropriate comments. He (Kalam) is keen that only constructive debates happen on the site,” a close aide said.

Back-channel efforts are on to bring all 'Other Kalam' communities under one roof so that the visitors don't get deviated from the 'Real One.'

Copyright@The New Indian Express

Kalam gets FBied, says it’s a page pinned to purpose

Former Indian President A P J Abdul Kalam tests his FB page at his Rajaji Marg residence in Delhi on February 4, ahead of the launch. Photo: Express

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Bangalore: An 80-year-old inspiration-enabled Indian ‘missile’ hits Facebook. Set to penetrate the hearts of fans across the globe for the first time through a social net-working site, this piece of igniting information could be your dose of enlightenment on a Monday morning. It’s official news. It’s exclusive to Express. APJ gets FBIed!
So, when former President A P J Abdul Kalam made up his  mind to get FBied, little did he realize that there are already over 10 ‘others Kalam’s ruling the Net, with one even having a fan following running into lakhs. Hence the original Kalam’s official address on FB will be: www.facebook.com/OfficialKalam. Like his famous missile launch campaigns, Kalam quietly ran the trial run of his new-found-love a month ago and late on Saturday night (February 4), decided to make the site live. Giving him company in the hour of networking was his Man Friday and IIM-Ahmedabad grad Srijan Pal Singh.
“I travel across Indian cities and villages meeting thousands of people, with a majority of them youth, who are great innovators and social entrepreneurs. Through my social networking page, I want to enlighten the nation about such wonderful initiatives, ideas and people –who are silently shaping future of this country. I look forward to a constructive discussion on such initiatives which would be vital for achieving the vision for an economically-developed India by 2020,” Kalam told Express.
He said that his FB page will to be a tool to promote a spirit of ‘What Can I Give’ among the citizens, especially the youth. “I would be sharing all the examples and ideas from the nation, of those people who have been giving to the society, nation or environment to create smiles, happiness and peace. I am calling this ‘The What Can I Give Diary’ which will be regularly uploaded on the page,” says Kalam, with age catching up with his body, but not mind.
Hinting that his FB mission will be one for a cause, Kalam said that he is keen to bring forth the problems and opportunities of rural India to a larger audience. “I have come across cases where farmers have suffered in bad season due to poor technology and in good season due to bad management. Can we bring forth these problems and evolve solutions with a national participation through social networking? Or can we use the social networking platform to discuss, improve and replicate some of the impactful initiatives in villages for empowerment of the farmer and underprivileged communities?” he asks.
When asked how often would he get on to FB, considering that his schedule puts to shame all those who ‘fixed only 24 hours in a day,’ and not 30, Kalam said: “Every day.” When probed about the ‘other Kalams’ on FB, he said: “Such pages will always exist. We will try and merge them into one common page over a period of time.”

Copyright@The New Indian Express