As Pratibha Patil on Saturday emerged as his successor, President A P J Abdul Kalam spent the day meeting the families of his staff, opening an imperial-style auditorium and reciting a Hindi poem about his quest for wisdom and peace.

"Every President has got his or her core competence," he remarked as TV reporters jostled for his "byte" on his successor before he drove down to the President's estate for a farewell meeting with his staff and their families.

Kalam said he believed every President has "enriched" Rashtrapati Bhavan [Images], which he now calls the People's Bhavan.

Self-confidence in every Indian was the crux of his message to the nation.

"I want to bring self-confidence in every Indian," Kalam, 75, said as he planted a shrub in the sprawling estate after inaugurating an auditorium.

He also recited the poem in heavily-accented Hindi -- "Mein nirantar chada, chadta raha, Shikhar kahan hai mere Ishwar? Mein nirantar khojta raha, khojta raha, Gyan ka bhandaar kahan hai mere Ishwar? (I have climbed relentlessly, where is the summit, my Lord? I have searched relentlessly, where is the fountain of wisdom my Lord?)

"Mein nav kheta raha, kheta raha, shanti ka dweep kahan hai mere Ishwar? Hey Ishwar, mere desh ko doordrishti aur mehnat se anand prapti ka vardaan do." (I kept rowing the boat, where is the island of peace my Lord? My Lord, allow my country to attain happiness through farsightedness and hard work).

In his address to presidential staff and their families, Kalam said Rashtrapati Bhavan has given him many good memories.

The children's gallery, the exhibits in the kitchen museum, paintings and sculpture in the marble hall and the herbal, spiritual and tactile gardens have all been attractions for visitors, he noted.