Rameswaram: A sea of humanity, especially school and college students, have thronged to catch a last glimpse of former president APJ Abdul Kalam before his last rites on Thursday.
Advertisement
The casket containing Kalam’s body was carried in an army vehicle from Mandapam, around 22 km from here, and a large number of people lined up on both sides of the road to have a final glimpse of their beloved former president. “Suitably named “the People’s President”, Dr. Kalam’s humility and dedication to public service served as an inspiration to millions of Indians and admirers around the world”, Obama said.
President Pranab Mukherjee had earlier expressed his condolence over Kalam’s demise saying that the previous president will be all the time be remembered for his ardour for science and innovation.
Dr. Kalam who is well-known as people’s president, Missile man was died on 27 July, 2015 while taking a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong.
A similar tribute to Dr Kalam came from Mr P. Chidambaram, a prominent leader in the Indian National Congress and critic of the current government. Kalam, a rocket engineer, played a key role in weaponizing India’s nuclear program and was instrumental in conducting the country’s second nuclear test, in 1998, which earned the wrath of the United States and was followed by global sanctions.
His body was kept overnight in Shillong and then flown to Guwahati, Assam yesterday morning and from there by a C-130 J Super Hercules aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft to Delhi. Since 2007, Kalam had been working towards the goal for an “economically developed India by 2020″. Abdul Kalam will be held in his hometown Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu following his family’s wish.
Kalam received several prestigious awards, including Bharat Ratna, India’s top civil honor conferred by the government.
“The Prime Minister is coming”, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said, confirming the attendance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reports ABP.
Modi reminisced about Kalam as one who took little from the world while giving all he could to society.
Advertisement
Kalam’s close aide Srijan Pal Singh would now act as the administrator of his Twitter account and will keep sharing inspirational quotes by Kalam.
