Describing former President APJ Abdul Kalam as a ‘rashtra-ratna’ (nation’s gem) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the best tribute to him would be to realise his dreams for the country.
“An ordinary man with an extraordinary personality,” said the Prime Minister of Kalam while addressing a condolence meeting of BJP Parliamentary party. The meet also passed two resolutions condoling Kalam’s demise and loss of lives in Gurdaspur terror attack on Monday.
Kalam was a ‘rashtra-ratna’ (nation’s gem) first and ‘rashtrapati’ (President) later, he said noting that his life was an example of what a person can achieve.
“A rare sparkling gem has disappeared.... He sold newspapers in childhood and today newspapers across the world are full of reports about him. He was a rare gem with diverse talents. The beloved son of Mother India is no longer among us. We have lost a lot,” Modi said in his address. Kalam always called himself a teacher irrespective of the high positions he held and began teaching immediately after he demitted the President’s office and breathed his last in Shillong among students, he said. “He started teaching in a college in South India the day after he demitted the office of President, the very next day with the same smile on his face,” Modi said at the meet, recalling Kalam’s dedication to teaching.
In a separate tweet, Prime Minister said “…my mind is filled with so many memories, so many interactions with him. Always marvelled at his intellect, learnt so much from him. Kalam enjoyed being with people; people and youngsters adored him. He loved students and spent his final moments among them”, the Prime Minister said.
BJP chief, Amit Shah, spoke on how Kalam spent his time among people despite being the President and was a fine example of how to contribute while holding a constitutional post.
The meeting observed silence in the memory of the former President. Resolutions condoling Kalam’s death and also the loss of lives in Gurudaspur terror attack on Monday were passed. In his separate condolence, Shah described him as the “best exemplar” of the idea of India. The BJP chief said Kalam was a “rare combination” of science, education and morality and his personality and achievements will inspire the coming generations.
“Nation will always be in debt for his contributions. His death has caused an irreparable loss to the nation,” Shah said, recalling that Kalam played a key role in making India a space and nuclear power.
BJP patriarch lK Advani said the void left by his absence cannot be filled.
“His belief that India would become a developed nation by 2020 inspired millions of Indians. He was a lifelong learner and a lifelong teacher. He was also unparalleled in his ability to motivate young minds,” he said.
“He served Mother India literally until the last breath of his life. He was truly a ‘karma yogi’ par excellence. I always regarded Kalam as the best exemplar of the idea of India, one who embodied the best of all the cultural and spiritual traditions that signify India’s unity in immense diversity,” he said.
In his condolence message, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari described Kalam as a great scientist, a true nationalist and a wonderful human being.
The RSS condoled the demise of former President APJ Abdul Kalam and said in his passing away the country has lost one of her greatest sons.
RSS head Mohan Bhagwat paid homage to the former President at his 10, Rajaji Marg residence, after Kalam’s body was brought here in the afternoon from Shillong, where he passed away Monday.
“While sharing the deep sorrow with the entire nation over his death, which is an unsurmountable loss to our country, we express our heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family and pray to the Almighty to bestow peace on the departed soul,” RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and general secretary Suresh (Bhayya) Joshi said.
“Dr Abdul Kalam’s life, from obscurity as a small boy growing up in the temple city of Rameswaram to becoming Bharat’s eleventh President, was a tale of extraordinary courage, determination, perseverance and the desire to excel.”