File photo: Former President APJ Abdul Kalam.
A P J Abdul Kalam was a daring President who went on a submarine sortie, flew a Sukhoi jet and visited the Siachen glacier, the world's highest battlefield, and interacted with troops at the Line of Control.
But none of these was probably as daring as flying out of Aizawl airport in the night with the runway illuminated with lanterns and torches.
On that evening in 2005, Dr Kalam, then 73, had completed all his official engagements during his visit to Mizoram and was scheduled to leave the next morning. But a restless Dr Kalam decided to take off for Delhi at night, one of his senior aides recalled.
The local Indian Air Force station's head was summoned and informed of the President's wish to fly to the national capital as his work in Mizoram was over.
"But there are no facilities for taking off from the airport at night," the IAF officer said, thinking the matter was settled.
However, his explanation did not cut ice with Dr Kalam, who retorted: "What if there is an emergency? Will the IAF wait for the morning? Tell them I have to take off and all necessary arrangements should be made."
His aides went to the IAF officer and conveyed the message from Dr Kalam, who as President was also the supreme commander of the armed forces.
The IAF commander immediately got in touch with his seniors in Delhi, who did not come to his rescue and instead asked him to comply with the orders of the Missile Man.
Finally, Dr Kalam had his way and IAF personnel lit up the runway with lanterns, flaming torches and bonfires to facilitate take-off, the aide said.
The President's aides too were concerned about his decision to take off at night from an airport that had only basic equipment and privately asked IAF officials whether such a flight would be safe.
The IAF officer's answer was spine-chilling - "you can take off but there may be some problems if you have to return."
At around 9 pm, the Presidential Boeing took off with Dr Kalam and his entourage of 22.
Never one to rest, Dr Kalam, 83 was delivering a lecture at IIM, Shillong, when he collapsed and died after a massive cardiac arrest on Monday.