“Don’t declare holiday on my death, instead work an extra day if you really love me” said Dr APJ Abdul Kalam who was People’s President of a country where there are too many political holidays on birth and death anniversaries of leaders both at central and state level including like on death anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar started this year only by Uttar Pradesh government just for political mileage of vote-bank politics. Every leader if he/she might have been really great, must have desired countrymen for hard work like Dr APJ Abdul Kalam rather than remembering him/her through political holidays on their birth/death anniversaries.
Best tribute to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam will be to announce total abolition of political holidays on birth and death anniversaries of leaders including on Gandhi Jayanti on 2 October and 14 April on Ambedkar Jayanti. Such a bold announcement quoting Dr APJ Abdul Kalam will not attract political resistance in name of vote-bank politics if made instantly on July 30, the date of performing the last rites of Dr Kalam. Also declaration should be made to commemorate these days as extra-work days by increasing office-hours on 2 October, 14 April and other such birth/death anniversaries of leaders. It will automatically stop unholy political demands coming to declare such holidays for birth/death anniversaries of more and more leaders.
