MyGate founder recalls meeting President Kalam | Economic Times

Shaurya Chakra recipient Vijay Kumar Arisetty, Founder, MyGate says his most memorable Republic Day was when he met former president of India Dr Abdul KalamVijay Kumar Arisetty, Founder, MyGate is no stranger to tough times. In 2004, when he was in the Indian Air Force, he negotiated rumbling tsunami waves and rescued around 300 people in Andaman and Nicobar. For this, he was awarded the Shaurya Chakra in 2005 by Dr Abdul Kalam.He tells ET Panache about the meeting, “It was a grand and humbling experience to receive the Shaurya Chakra from Dr. Kalam. He was such a down-to-earth human being that, despite him being the supreme commander, I didn't feel any distance in his presence.”Arisetty says that despite the formalities in place, Dr Kalam took the time out to speak to Arisetty and his family. “Despite protocols, he interacted with me and really made my parents feel the importance of the event. Even my father had the privilege of talking to Dr. Kalam and even clicked a photograph with him,” adds Arisetty.The founder says that the award sits on a shelf in his home in Bangalore. “Initially you do feel bound by a certain responsibility once you or your profession becomes associated with certain qualities. All soldiers feel it, and, indeed, after winning a gallantry award, you feel that you have to be brave and show strong leadership at all times. But this is only temporary and, in no time, the focus is your next challenge,” he shares.