Chief Minister Raman Singh paid glowing tributes on the first death anniversary of former President and Bharat Ratna Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on Wednesday.
Commemorating the contribution of the late Dr Kalam, the Chief Minister in his message said that the life of Dr Kalam is a source of inspiration for every citizen of India. He was a great space scientist, an educationist, a writer and a sensitive poet.
He said that Dr Kalam used to visit Chhattisgarh frequently as Chief Scientist of DRDO and was quite impressed with the simple way of living here. Especially the beauty of Bastar region had always attracted him. During his visit to Raipur as President once, he had written a poem with title 'Chhattisgarh Ke Jan Gan'.
It is noteworthy that even after taking charge as President of India, he had visited Chhattisgarh a number of times. On January 28, 2004, he had graced the convocation ceremony of Pt Ravishankar Shukla University in Raipur as Chief Guest, he said.
On that very day, he had given a motivational speech in the Chhattisgarh Assembly, Singh said.
Dr Kalam had visited Sargipal of Bastar district on June 3, 2004. On Chhattisgarh State Foundation Day programme, he had graced State Felicitation Programme as Chief Guest and had also inaugurated Purkhauti Muktangan and attended plantation programme in Sundarkera village on the same day, he said.
Dr Kalam had inaugurated fourth international conference on sickle cell anaemia at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College here on Nov 22, 2010. later on September 12, 2013 he had attended district-level teachers' felicitation ceremony in District Headquarters Bemetara of the State.