APJ Abdul Kalam and Nitish Kumar at the function in Patna on Tuesday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Nov. 16: When APJ Abdul Kalam was lecturing legislators on governance yesterday, some of his “students” were getting education of a different kind.

Bihar ministers and lawmakers were surprised — some felt offended — when they discovered that a kit distributed to all of them on the occasion contained a booklet which talked about the use and benefits of condoms besides detailing precautionary steps against AIDS.

Former President Kalam had been invited by the Assembly secretariat to address legislators yesterday. Among those present were chief minister Nitish Kumar and his Cabinet colleagues.

As Kalam imparted lessons in the “politics of development” and furnished tips to the legislators on how to transform themselves into visionary leaders, many of his “students” were busy leafing through the booklet prepared and handed out by the health department that contained explicit advice on condoms.

“The booklets had pictures of condoms and human private parts. It was not the occasion to distribute such kits to legislators at a function addressed by a person of the stature of Kalam sahib. The kit did not fit the occasion,” an MLA said under cover of anonymity.

A JD(U) MLA from Vaishali district said he felt “embarrassed” to see what the kit contained. “We thought that the wrong kit had been given to us. But the men distributing the kit said it was part of the papers being given to everyone at the function.”

Health department officials wondered what the fuss was all about in an age when the scourge of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases has reached alarming proportions.

“There was nothing wrong in the distribution of the kit relating to condoms. After all, the legislators represent urban as well as rural areas. If they are aware about AIDS and measures to check it, they can educate the people,” a health official, who did not wish to be named, said.

The official then took a jab at the legislators, many of who often skip Assembly sessions. “It was one occasion when most of the legislators were present at one place,” he said.