President Abdul Kalam being presented copies of the Assamese versions of his books Wings of Fire and Ignited Minds in New Delhi on July 19

July 27: Suresh Sharma met President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at Rashtrapati Bhavan earlier this month. It was a moment the city-based translator will never forget.

For Sharma, meeting the country’s “rocketman”, whose progressive thinking had never ceased to amaze him, was a dream come true.

Sharma has translated two of the President’s books — Wings of Fire and Ignited Minds — into Assamese.

Encouraged by the success of the books, Sharma is now busy translating the third book of Kalam, India 2020 — A Vision for the New Millennium, into Assamese and plans to release it in October.

The Assamese versions of the two books, Wings of Fire and Ignited Minds, received huge appreciation from the state’s readers. More than 11,000 copies of the books have already been sold.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Sharma said the main objective behind translating the books was to familiarise the young Assamese readers with the President’s views.

Sharma said he was working on the translation of the third book and wants to release it on October 15.

“The theme of the book, the President’s vision, stirred me and I wanted to translate it into our vernacular to make it easier for the people of the region to understand,” Sharma added. The book will be published by Jyoti Prakshan.

Publisher Nagen Sharma, young social activist Diplu Ranjan Sharma and Suresh Sharma met the President this month and presented him with copies of the two earlier books. During their 25-minute interaction with the President, the latter expressed hope that such endeavours would create a conducive atmosphere for growth in the entire region.

Kalam asked the publishers to bring out cheaper paperback editions of the books for the benefit of students.

“I have promised the President to release the book on his birthday. I believe that the students will be able to gain knowledge from the book, which aims at turning India into a developed nation by 2020,” Suresh Sharma added. He said the book targets the younger generation.

The two earlier books were printed in three editions because of their huge demand.

Nagen Sharma said he was most excited at getting the opportunity to publish such a popular book.

He said they would try to sell the book at a cheaper price so that more people could afford it.

He said the book would create a positive attitude in the minds of the readers. He added that the President’s aim, which is highlighted in the book, should be the objective of each and every citizen to make Kalam’s dream come true.

“This is a great effort from the President, which every individual should realise,” he added.

Suresh Sharma, who has translated 12 books, is a senior translator at the Guwahati High Court.

He has compiled two Anglo-Assamese dictionaries, one for school students and the other for college students.

He has also brought out Borofor Phool, a translation of 12 stories from Oriya, Bengali and Marathi literature.