Kalam spent a good 15-20 minutes getting to know the 10 awardees of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Puraskars. Some of them had brought gifts for him, others wanted to garland him. And all this time the crowd behind them kept calling out to catch the President's attention. The Presidential Guards had a tough time keeping the delegates and the press photographers at bay. Kalam, though, looked like he was enjoying himself.

Lord Meghnad Desai of the United Kingdom shakes hands with Kalam as Ahmed Moosa Ebrahim, former chief of Zimbabwe Cricket Union, and Fitz Remedios Santana De Souza, former deputy speaker of Kenya, look on.

Photos: Ranjan Basu/Saab Press

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