President Kalam hosted a ceremonial banquet for the Russian President, Vladimir Putin. I was given a seat on the 44-member dining table, with 22 guests on each side; the Presidents facing each other in the middle and the guests by their side in the decreasing order of their stature. Ignoring the great fortune of being present there, my ‘lower self’ felt relieved that I was not placed at the corner-most seat. The small orchestra at the balcony played ‘Awara hoon’ with its most melodious piece on the piano and accordion. President Putin waved towards the musicians in appreciation.

Every member of President Putin’s large delegation, some 80-odd of them, wore formal black suits. They looked right out of a movie scene – measured steps, half-smiles, and black briefcases and ladies’ bags. The variety of dresses, facial expressions and body language of the Indian leaders and guests, on the other hand, were in complete contrast. President Putin held my hand in a steel-like grip and looked straight into my eyes. “This man means business and knows how to get what he wants,” I felt.

The next day morning, Dr. Kalam told me during a walk through the Mughal Gardens, “Russians are magnanimous people. They are people who live by their hearts. Russia has endured so much and yet, her people never fail to rise up from adversity and strife more confident and stronger for having achieved victory over the challenges she has faced! Russia was almost destroyed in the last ten years, but this man is a man of destiny for his people. Russia will rise again with him!”