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Former President APJ Abdul Kalam Dies at 83: Press Trust of India

APJ Abdul Kalam – From Rameswaram to Rashtrapati Bhavan he conquered everyone with his smile | Zee News

Delhi: If there is one enduring aspect of former president APJ Abdul Kalam, who passed away in Shillong on Monday, that is his smile.

As tributes poured in for the man, who rose from humble beginnings to assume office as the 11th President on July 18, 2002, mostly everyone remembered his affable nature, his tremendous ability to connect with people of all ages and his captivating smile.

Whatever the occasion may be, he always had a smile on his face and that immediately put people who interacted with him at ease.

Countless photos of him bearing the charming smile, and his unmistakable flock of hair, can be seen on internet.

Popularly called the 'Missile Man of India', Dr Kalam earned the reputation of being the 'people's President'.

A devout Muslim and son of a boatowner, Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was one amongst the most respected people of the country who contributed immensely both as a scientist and as a president.

Acknowledged as the driving force behind India's quest for cutting-edge defence technologies, Kalam's contributions to India's satellite programmes, guided and ballistic missiles project, nuclear weapons programme and the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project made him a household name.

Born and raised in Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu on October 15, 1931, Kalam, joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) after studying physics and aerospace engineering after graduating from Madras Institute of Technology.

Mainly focusing on research in defence and space arena, he later involved himself in the India's missile programme.

His contribution to the ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology earned him the named as the "Missile Man of India".

Many would say that he passed away doing what he loved to do best - interacting with the people.

He suffered a massive cardiac arrest and collapsed during a lecture on 'Livable Planet' at IIM in Shillong.

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New Delhi: Former prime minister Dr [URL='http://zeenews.india.com/tags/manmohan-singh.html']Manmohan Singh on Monday expressed his condolences over the sudden demise APJ Abdul Kalam, saying that the former president's life and work will be remembered for generations to come.


"I worked very closely with Dr. Kalam as PM and I greatly benefitted from his advice as Pres of our country. His life and work will be remembered for generations to come," tweeted Singh.

"I have learnt with profound sorrow about the demise of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Our country has lost a great human being who made phenomenal contribution to promotion of self reliance in defence technologies," he added.

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Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram condoles Kalam's death | Zee News

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Monday said every Indian will feel a deep sense of personal loss in the death of former President APJ Abdul Kalam, who had endeared himself to all sections of the people.

"In recent history, only a few people had endeared themselves to the young and old, to the poor and the rich, to the educated and the unlettered, and to the people belonging to different faiths and speaking different languages," he said in his condolence message.

Chidambaram said he joined all Indians in expressing their deep sense of grief.

"At the same I pay tribute to the life and work of Kalam as a teacher, scientist, as a team leader, as the first citizen of India, and above all, a great human being filled with love and compassion," he said.

PTI

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APJ Abdul Kalam's demise a huge loss: Devendra Fadnavis | Zee News

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday expressed grief over the demise of former President APJ Abdul Kalam.


"Kalam saheb taught us to dream big and made us believe that dreams can come true. He led us on the path of making India the superpower. Kalam sahab's demise is a huge loss. Saddened & shocked!," Fadnavis said in a tweet.

State Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar described Kalam as a scientist who was a saint at heart.

"An Indian par excellence. A President who opened President's house to public. People's President who was and will be loved by people of all ages. A teacher at heart, Dr. Kalam passed away while addressing the students. I hope and pray that youth of India will pay tribute to this great legend by walking on the path shown by Dr. Kalam," he said.

State education minister Vinod Tawde said, "Today our nation's 'Wings of Fire' are extinguished and the nation mourns. Let us all pray for deliverance of our beloved APJ Abdul Kalam."

Chairman of Maharashtra Legislative Council Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar remembered Kalam as "the man of impeccable character and profound knowledge."

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde said, "Every person in the country feels he has lost the member of the family in Kalam's demise. India has lost one of its favourite sons today."

BJP state unit president Raosaheb Danve said, "Kalam gave energy to the common man to dream big and he himself spent his life in the service of the country."

PTI

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Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday condoled the death of former President A P J Abdul Kalam and said she shared a special bond with him.


"Very, very sad news. I had a special bond with Kalam'ji. He was one of India's favorite sons and one of my favourite people. A very sad day," Banerjee said in a tweet from the United Kingdom where she was on a five-day visit.

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nobody is cursing this man

have some shame and stop trolling in his wake thread please :tsk:

Former President APJ Abdul Kalam passes away - YouTube
APJ Abdul Kalam: Not Hindu, Not Muslim – Death of an 'Indian' | Zee News
By Ajith Vijay Kumar | Last Updated: Monday, July 27, 2015 - 23:56
APJ Abdul Kalam: Not Hindu, Not Muslim – Death of an 'Indian' | Zee News

New Delhi: What's so Muslim about Dr APJ Abdul Kalam?, was the question raised in 2002 when the nuclear scientist joined the race to be the 11th President of India.


Kalam went on to occupy the Rashtrapati Bhavan...and the minds of hearts of countless Indians. Dr Kalam reached the ethereal space that transcends name or religion, he became the People's President.

He was the 'PRESIDENT' in a way no one else before him have ever been.

Dr Kalam was a devout Muslim and believed in the teachings of Quran but he also loved the Gita.
He was strict vegetarian, played the classical musical instrument Veena and was heavily inspired by the philosophy of Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar.

Kalam had published a book on the teachings of the poet - Thirukkural: Pearls of Inspiration.

A man of frugal needs, Kalam's undying passion in life was to see India as a developed country and he believed that the only way to achieve that goal is to give 'Wings of Fire' to the youth of the country.

And, he worked towards that till his last breath – he passed away while interacting with students at IIM Shillong.

Kalam was more a Muslim that many of those who profess their faith in the religion. He had understood the true essence of Islam – respect for other faiths.

But his true religion was love for his country.

“For great men, religion is a way of making friends; small people make religion a fighting tool.” APJ Abdul Kalam
 
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I dont know if I should Post it ... But This is the last moments of Kalam Sir :cry:

11817181_10153230635798071_6038719757534861543_n.jpg
 
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When Kalam refused to sit on Presidential chair at an event | Zee News
New Delhi: Once during an event, President APJ Abdul Kalam refused to sit on a chair that was designated for him?-because the chair was larger in size than the other chairs!


This was one of the several instances where Dr Kalam's actions became synonymous with simplicity and humility that was the hallmark of his public life--both as India's top scientist and most loved President.

At a convocation of IIT(BHU)Varanasi, Kalam was the Chief Guest and there were five chairs on the stage, the centre one being for the President. The other four were designated for the top university officials.

Noticing his chair being bigger in size than the others, Kalam refused to sit on it and offered the Vice Chancellor to sit instead, according to a published account. The VC couldn?t, obviously and another chair was made available immediately for the "People's President".

Once, Kalam rejected the suggestion to put broken glass on the wall of a building that needed protection because it would be harmful for birds.

This happened when Kalam was with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and his team was discussing options to secure the perimeter of a building that needed protection. Kalam reportedly said: "If we do that, birds will not be able to perch on the wall."

When youngsters and teenagers sought a meeting with him, Kalam, who always wore a genial smile, not only obliged and gave them his precious time, but he also listened carefully to the ideas the kids had.

Soon after it was declared that Kalam would be the next President in 2002, he visited a modest school to deliver a speech. His security detail was minimal, and he didn?t mind taking control of the situation when the power went off.

Speaking to around 400 students, Kalam ensured the power cut didn?t cause any interruption. He walked right in the middle of the crowd and asked the students to surround him. He then spoke to them with his bare voice and delivered, like always, an inspiring keynote.

When a subordinate of Kalam at DRDO couldn?t take his children to an exhibition due to work pressure, he surprised his subordinate and took the children in stead, according to another published account.

And, Who did President Kalam invite as the "Presidential Guests" to Kerala?s Raj Bhavan during his first visit to the state after becoming the President?--a road side cobbler and owner of a very small hotel

As the President, Kalam was entitled to invite anyone as the "Presidential Guests" to the Raj Bhavan during his first visit to Trivandrum, now called Thiruvananthapuram.

Kalam had spent a significant time as a scientist in Trivandrum and he invited a road-side cobbler?-who was quite close to Kalam during his scientist days in Kerala; and so was the owner of the small hotel where he would often have his meals.

PTI
 
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I dont know if I should Post it ... But This is the last moments of Kalam Sir :cry:

11817181_10153230635798071_6038719757534861543_n.jpg
:cry::cry:

APJ Abdul Kalam will be remembered fondly: Sonia Gandhi | Zee News
New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday said she was "deeply saddened" at the death of former president APJ Abdul Kalam, and he will be "missed dearly and remembered fondly by every Indian.


In a statement, she said she was deeply saddened at the passing away of Kalam.

"Kalam was a man of many parts - a scientist, an inventor, a visionary thinker and a teacher. Through his life and work, he ignited the minds of young people," Gandhi said.

She said that Kalam won over the hearts and minds of an entire nation with his warmth and wisdom during his term as president.

"He will be missed dearly and remembered fondly by every Indian," Gandhi said.
 
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Timeline
  • » 1931: Born Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam on October 15, in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
  • » 1954: Graduates in Physics from Saint Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli, in 1954.
  • » 1960: Gains degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Madras Institute of Technology.
  • » 1969: Transferred to ISRO from the DRDO.
  • » 1980: India enters the space club by putting the Rohini satellite in the near earth orbit with the first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III), developed under the stewardship of Dr. Kalam.
  • » 1980s-1990s: As the chief of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, he was responsible for the development and operationalisation of AGNI and PRITHVI Missiles.
  • » 1992-1999: works as Chief Scientific Advisor to the PM and Secretary of the DRDO.
  • » 1998: India conducts the Pokhran II nuclear tests in May with Dr. Kalam as the chief project coordinator.
  • » 1999-2001: Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India.
  • » 2002-2007: President of India
 
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