Kalam second President to grace Indian Chamber

Indian Chamber of Commerce has done it again. After managing to bring the first citizen of the country quarter of a century ago to inaugurate its Golden Jubilee annual general meeting in 1975, ICC has roped in Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, the President of India and scientist of international repute, to grace the annual session in its platinum jubilee year.

"Tomorrow's address by the President is possibly his first speech to the business community ever since he assumed charge," ICC president Aditya Lodha pointed out. Kalam has never attended a regional chamber meeting before this.

Lodha said he was happy for achieving the apparently impossible task of bringing the President to the AGM of a regional chamber.

Also, this was a befitting reply to his detractors who were critical for the delay in holding the AGM. ICC is behind schedule by three months this year.

In 1976, president Fakruddin Ali Ahmed inaugurated ICC's annual general meeting. After a gap of two-and-half decades, the President is again coming to the city to address the business community in the city. Sudhir Jalan was ICC president at the time of the golden jubilee AGM.

"The chamber was formed 75 years ago as a platform for the voice of Indian industry. It had fought for national issues under the British Raj. Nothing could be better than having the country's First Citizen with us at the Platinum Jubilee general meeting," secretary general Nazeeb Arif told Business Standard.

Ghanshyam Das Birla, one of the icons of the Indian industry, was the founder president of the chamber.He served for two consecutive years beginning 1926. Other illustrious presidents include Badridas Goenka, B M Birla, Kamta Prasad Goenka, Lala Karam Chand Thapar, Russy Modi, Krishna Kumar Birla and Rama Prasad Goenka.

Vikram Thapar, president elect, will assume charge in the presence of Kalam. West Bengal governor Viren J Shah will also be present.