Kamal Haasan begins political journey from late ex-president APJ Abdul Kalam’s home 

Actor Kamal Haasan made a historic beginning to his political career today from the residence of former president of India, late APJ Abdul Kalam in Rameshwaram.

Haasan, who left for Rameshwaram yesterday from Chennai, paid homage to the late president of India at the House of Kalam at around 7.40am today. The actor, who also had his breakfast at Kalam’s home, presented a watch as a gift to Kalam’s elder brother, Mohammed Muthu Meera Lebbai Maraikayar, and met the late leader’s other family members.

After the meeting, the actor tweeted, ''Greatness can come from simple beginnings. Actually it will come only from simplicity. Glad to start my journey from a great man’s simple abode. #maiam''

However, the actor had to cancel his plans of going to Kalam’s former school and meeting schoolchildren because the district unit of the Hindu Munnani had taken exception to the actor’s plans. The actor was planning to attend an interaction session with students at the Number 1 Mandapam Panchayat Union Middle school, the alma mater of the former president.

In a complaint to district collector Natarajan, Hindu Munnani’s Rameshwaram district secretary, K Ramamurthy, had said that politicians of different parties would have different policies and opinions and if they were allowed to address the students, it could cause confusion in the minds of the children. The Hindu Munnani’s contention is that schools and educational institutions must not be allowed to be used as political platforms.

As a result of this complaint, Haasan chose to cancel his plan of visiting the school. The actor is expected to address the media at Rameshwaram later in the day.