Annamalai inaugurates Kalam academy, APJ's family, INA veteran attend

K Annamalai, Chief Servant of the We The Leaders Foundation, inaugurated the Abdul Kalam Centre for Ethics and Politics in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore on Thursday, launching an initiative under his new political movement to develop a new generation of "ethical and responsible grassroots leaders". The event was attended by a veteran of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army (INA) and members of former President APJ Abdul Kalam's family.

Lieutenant Rangaswamy Madhavan, a veteran of Bose's INA, attended the inauguration as the guest of honour, while K Ramasamy, founder and chairman of the Roots Group of Companies, was the chief guest. APJ Jainulabdeen Marakayar and APJMJ Sheikh Saleem, members of Kalam's family, were also present at the event held on the 95th birth anniversary of the former President.

In his post on X, Annamalai wrote that the centre would carry forward Kalam's dreams and ideas to the next generation.

"The centre aims to help young people understand that politics is not a path to power, but an instrument for bringing about social change based on ethics, integrity and public service," Annamalai posted on X.

As part of the inauguration, Ramasamy unveiled a plaque commemorating Kalam at the facility. Annamalai delivered the leadership address, outlining the vision behind the centre and the need to build a new generation of responsible grassroots leaders.

Just a day earlier, on October 14 (Wednesday), Annamalai announced that We The Leaders (WTL) would contest the upcoming local body elections in Tamil Nadu. The local body polls are likely to be held next year, with the dates yet to be announced. Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Annamalai, revealed that his foundation will seek to bring change.

A CENTRE WITH KALAM'S NAME FOR ETHICAL POLITICS

Annamalai, who had earlier served as the Tamil Nadu BJP's president, underscored that the Abdul Kalam Centre for Ethics and Politics is built on the premise that public leadership can be learned, practised and developed. The IPS officer-turned-politician stated that the objective is to provide a structured platform for aspiring grassroots leaders to understand communities, work with institutions, identify public problems and organise people to create tangible social impact.

While India has a long democratic tradition, the initiative is built around structured pathways to prepare grassroots leaders, with people's needs at the centre of governance, remain limited. The WTL centre aims to address this gap through a combination of leadership education and field experience.

The programme will begin with a two-day Foundation Course, followed by plans for a four-week Leadership Academy and a 100-day Field Lab, according to the official statement of the WTL foundation.

WE THE LEADER'S FIRST COHORT HAS 100 WOMEN

One of the defining features of the launch was that the centre's first cohort comprised 100 women from different parts of Tamil Nadu. According to the foundation's official statement noted the participants have been involved in grassroots, civic and community activities since the early days of the WTL movement.

The all-women batch is part of the movement's Month of Women Empowerment and Safety. The stated aim is to take women's participation in public life beyond representation and prepare them for leadership, decision-making, governance and institution-building.

The first cohort's programme is free of cost to participants and began with the two-day Foundation Course on Thursday.

WHY APJ ABDUL KALAM IS CENTRAL TO ANNAMALAI'S POLITICAL VISION

The centre also represents the continuation of Annamalai's decision to place Kalam at the heart of his political initiative. After his resignation as Tamil Nadu BJP chief was accepted in June, Annamalai unveiled We The Leaders as a movement that would function under the Abdul Kalam Centre for Ethics and Politics.

The choice of Kalam as an ideological figure is notable in Tamil Nadu, and beyond it, where political movements have traditionally drawn inspiration from leaders associated with distinct social and ideological traditions.

The DMK traces its roots to Periyar EV Ramasamy, CN Annadurai and M Karunanidhi, while the AIADMK's political legacy is closely associated with MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa. Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has invoked figures including Periyar, BR Ambedkar, K Kamaraj, Rani Velu Nachiyar and Anjalai Ammal as its political icons.

In such a polarised political spectrum, Kalam occupies a different place in the state's public life. The former President, scientist and widely recognised "Missile Man of India" is associated with scientific achievement, education, national development and youth empowerment. His public image has also extended beyond conventional party and community boundaries.

By choosing Kalam as the guiding figure for WTL, Annamalai appears to be seeking an ideological framework that places development, scientific thinking, national unity, Tamil pride and social harmony at its centre.

Whether the initiative can translate that vision into a wider political movement remains to be seen. For now, the inauguration of the centre signals Annamalai's effort to build an organisational platform around leadership training, public service and the legacy of one of India's most widely admired Presidents.