World

Former Indian president Abdul Kalam passes away

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam died apparently of a cardiac arrest in Shillong

Afp/web Desk July 27, 2015

india 039 s 11th president dr apj abdul kalam photo afp

India's 11th President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. PHOTO: AFP

Former Indian President Abdul Kalam passed away at a private hospital in Meghalaya on Monday evening, Press Trust of India reported.

Abdul Kalam dead.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 27, 2015

According to NDTV, India’s 11^th president had been admitted to the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Shillong, Meghalaya in critical condition.

He had collapsed at the Indian Institute of Management-Shillong while delivering a lecture to students of the B-school.

https://twitter.com/APJAbdulKalam/status/625546195205648384

"He is in the Intensive Care Unit. We are examining him. We suspect that it could be cardiac arrest," John Sailo Ryntathiang, director of Bethany Hospital, told IANS.

However, there was no immediate official word on the exact cause of his death.

Dr Kalam, 83, had served as the 11th President on India from 2002 to 2007. The government announced seven days mourning for him.

He is expected to be buried in his native Rameshwaram.

Dr Kalam was a people's President during his life time and will remain so even after death: Pranab Mukherjee.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 27, 2015

Later, his twitter account was converted into a memorial.

https://twitter.com/APJAbdulKalam/status/625731760093921281

Indian premier Narendra Modi noted that Kalam's death was a great loss to the nation.

India mourns the loss of a great scientist, a wonderful President & above all an inspiring individual. RIP Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 27, 2015

Dr. Kalam…my mind is filled with so many memories, so many interactions with him. Always marvelled at his intellect, learnt so much from him
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 27, 2015

Dr. Kalam enjoyed being with people; people & youngsters adored him. He loved students & spent his final moments among them.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 27, 2015

An acclaimed nuclear scientist and author, Kalam was known as the "people's president" during his time in office and continued to reach out to young people with his scientific lectures after leaving office.

Home minister Rajnath Singh described him as "an inspiration to an entire generation" in a post on Twitter.

Born to a poor family of boatman in Rameswaram, a coastal town in southern Tamil Nadu state on October 15, 1931, Kalam sold newspapers as a child to help his family financially.

He rose through the ranks to become a top scientist at India's defence research organisation, where he worked for four decades helping to develop the country's home grown weapon's programme, earning him the moniker "India's missile man".

He also played a pivotal role in India's nuclear weapons tests in 1998.

After his presidential term, Kalam returned to academics and regularly delivered lectures at top Indian universities. He also published a best seller autobiography entitled "Wings of fire" in 1999.

Nawaz offers condolences

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday expressed his condolences on the demise of former Indian president Dr Kalam.

He commiserated with the bereaved family and the people of India.

COMMENTS (54)

wiseowl | 9 years ago | Reply @ Shahid and @pak punjabi He was not a true muslim? Please be serious when commenting in ET. There are 1.5Billion Muslims in the world. Only insignificant 20 Million are in Pakistan. You are aware that very few muslims are living in Islamic country. Those outside Pakistan are not true muslims? Bombs and or missiles in Pakistan, Iran and elsewhere are made by non muslims. Many muslim thinkers ,scholars, and those practicing muslims are in India. Deobandi, Barelvi,Qadiani ,Bohara muslim thoughts originate in India. Indians are known to look at things differently. Buddhism, Jainism, Shikhism all originated in India. Urdu originated in India. So all Indian Muslims are not true muslims? For Indian Muslims and Indian citizens religion is personal and Indian muslims do not care who calls them true or false.Indian Muslims are true Indians and that matters.Dr. Abdul Kalam was a true and oustanding, a Great Indian who was a Bharatratna. His thought provoking writings, speeches ,books and lectures will be inspiring to all humans irrespective of his nationality. Please see if you find some learning from him. “It’s easy to defeat someone but its extremely difficult to win someone” was one of his quotes.

Abhigyan | 9 years ago | Reply @usman777: You got to start reading more about India.

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ask | 9 years ago | Reply @usman777: No; bulk of population is not in the South. Even cursory research will show that population of South India (5 States + 2 union territories) put together is 252 million (12% thereof Muslims), which is around one fifth of the total population of India, as per the 2011 census of India. On the other hand, population of a Single State in the North (UP) alone is 205 million, that is, almost equal to population of Pakistan! And then there are 20+ additional States that are non-South!

Murali Nair | 9 years ago | Reply @I. Khan (CAN): Khan, he did not leave any house. The parental house is owned by his elder brother. His own part of the house has been converted to a Museum. He died living in a house given by the Government on Rajaji Road (his privilege as an ex President) but now that he is dead, that house becomes government property again. He left nothing for his family, but left a whole universe of love, affection and teaching for the children of India.

usman777 | 9 years ago | Reply @nisha, isn't the bulk of the indian population located in the south? aren't the majority dravidian? i said distinctly indian not ALL indian look a certain way. please upgrade your hyper-sensitivities.

ZUBAIR MALIK | 9 years ago | Reply Dr APJ Abdul kalam was real human being He is not dead he will for ever because Live though u will die tomarraw But as per Dr APJ Abdul kalam Learn though you will live for ever...

Milind | 9 years ago | Reply @shahid & Pak Punjabi - Spoken like a true Pakistani... Judging faith of others, petty minded...

someone | 9 years ago | Reply @pak Punjabi: A true Muslim is one who would live and die for his country. Anyone who does the other wise, is just a fake Muslim.

Arshad(Texas) | 9 years ago | Reply @shahid: Have you lost your mind?. He was a Muslim and a patriotic Indian.

Nisha | 9 years ago | Reply @Usman777 He is of Tamilian ethnicity. Tamil nadu is not whole of india. He belongs to a state down south bordering srilanka. Tamil Nadu is from one state(ethnicity) from 29 states and 7 union territories. Not all indians are Tamilians to look or speak like them North indians look like Iranians, North East Indians like chinese/Japanese and South indians like maldives people. We are very huge and diverse country with different ethnicity and culture who look totally different from each other. Update your knowledge about the diversity of this sub continent.

aatif | 9 years ago | Reply We never get such a legend like RIP any more!!!! He was such a amazing person... we Indians has to learn more from his life... we miss sir....

Weirdity | 9 years ago | Reply @usman777: "Has very distinctly Indian features in looks." Yes. He comes from a part of india not soiled by invaders from arabia, turkey or central asia.

I. Khan (CAN) | 9 years ago | Reply No one will believe in Pakistani that former Indian President Abdul Kalam left a small house, an old car and few thousand rupees in the bank for his family. No Billions of dollars in European banks and no chateau in France and U.K like our Royal Highness Zardari and Nawaz Sharif have.

Gowri Saminathan | 9 years ago | Reply First time ever i shed tears for a Prime Minister being from another country, that has proven you have captured my heart in some way i did not realise till your demise. You will never be forgotten and your quotes will keep me growing. Pranam Ji.

Professor | 9 years ago | Reply RIP Dr.Kalam, you inspired millions of Indian kids by instilling the importance of education in them. You will forever be missed. But I am proud that I lived in the same era as you did.

wb | 9 years ago | Reply @ajeet: Be realistic and get your facts straight. 1) Abdul Kalam was not father of anything. He definitely contributed a great deal to Indian missile technology. 2) A Q Khan was a criminal. He was not made into one. He was a criminal when he stole the technology from Europe and he was a criminal when he sold them to North Korea and Iran.

wb | 9 years ago | Reply Let's be realistic and honest. He was a great engineer. His contribution to Indian missiles was indeed great. He was a true inspiration to all those who wanted to make it big with little to no resources. In India, no president enjoys any power to be called the best president or even a good president.

Raghu | 9 years ago | Reply @shahid: what crap. he was a practising muslim.dont spread misinformation.

vivek | 9 years ago | Reply @pak punjabi: he was a true indian.

Alien1 | 9 years ago | Reply A Great man he was....he will be remembered for his great contributions to India.

Brar | 9 years ago | Reply @shahid: He is not here to tell whether he was Hindu,Sikh,Christian or Muslim but he was great human being while yo are not even a man. @pak Punjabi: You are right true Muslims are confined to West Panjab only and are thekedar of Islam in the whole world, will you explain in which capacity yoy gave this Fatwa, whether he was true Muslim or false Muslim he was true human being. People like you said the same thing about Dr. Abdul Salam a great scientist who was kicked away by the true Muslims like you. Shame on you.

Brar | 9 years ago | Reply @pak Punjabi: You are right true Muslims are confined to West Panjab only and are thekedar of Islam in the whole world, will you explain in which capacity yoy gave this Fatwa, whether he was true Muslim or false Muslim he was true human being. People like you said the same thing about Dr. Abdul Salam a great scientist who was kicked away by the true Muslims like you. Shame on you.

someone | 9 years ago | Reply He was one of the most respected Indian in India. A true son of soil and not because he developed missiles but because of his uncompromising nationalism. In his famous speech to European congress, he did not mention any holy book but a famous Tamil poet about universal brotherhood. India would miss its one of the great citizen.

usman777 | 9 years ago | Reply Has very distinctly Indian features in looks.

IndianDude | 9 years ago | Reply Sad, very sad, may his soul get the well deserved eternal peace. India loses its true son and Islam loses a 'real' muslim. Dr. Abdul Kalam had shown to the world what a true muslim is and the contribution he/she make to the society when raised with 'live & let live' attitude.

Dr. Arshad Kamal Khan | 9 years ago | Reply He achieved what he set out for, fulfilled his dreams, and died in the process of what he liked most: advocating education. He found peace in his life time. Death is only a phase for his soul.

ajeet | 9 years ago | Reply Father of the Indian strategic weapons was made president, but the father of Pakistani strategic weapons was made into a criminal.

Sal | 9 years ago | Reply @shahid: Names do not have any religion. Grow up.

Sun Tzu | 9 years ago | Reply First time ever did I shed a tear on hearing of the death of a former President/PM/Minister/etc... APJ was a visionary, a leader, a scientist, a teacher and an icon of India.....

Francis | 9 years ago | Reply Love u sir

Francis | 9 years ago | Reply A real man of God who is gift for our nation . After I heard the msg " he is no more" .. I was stun..with my drop tears... And no man can define for his love and inspiration.. One moon one sun and only one a p j Abdul kalam.. He born for youth and dead for youth's ..Sir Stil ur alive in everyone's heart .we all Love u from core heart

Nisha | 9 years ago | Reply @Azhar: Dont speak nonsense. Being a supporter of LGBT doesn't make him gay. Or whole western countries would be gay. Obama supports LGBT rights too, is he gay? @shahid APJ Kalam was a moderate muslim not hindu.

omar | 9 years ago | Reply APJ Abdul Kalam died today. I don't know how to feel about that . He is the man who started the ballistic missile race in South Asia. Millions could die due the weapons he introduced. How different is he from a terrorist ? Only difference is that his weapons haven't killed anyone YET

Animal Farm | 9 years ago | Reply @Azhar: Civil rights movement didnt end with the death of MLK...similarly I dont think the LGBT rights wont stop because of the death of one person

pak Punjabi | 9 years ago | Reply he was not a true muslim.... if he was a true muslim ue wid hav nvr mafe bombs for India

bharatiya | 9 years ago | Reply I went on a school trip to mughal garden in 2002. Dr sir came out of the Rashtrapati Bhavan and greeted the students with his famous salute. Students cued up to touch his feet. I still remember him touching their foreheads with a smile on his face. He truly loved children and vice versa. FAREWELL sir

mvr | 9 years ago | Reply we salute you sir for your great contribution to india and indian people... may your soul lives to eternity. rip sir.............

Azhar | 9 years ago | Reply Major blow to the proponents of LGBT rights. His void can never be filled, he championed the rights for LGBT as he was also a part of that.

amir india | 9 years ago | Reply THE PEOPLE'S PRESIDENT he is truly the father of mordern india lived for the country and died at his duties true KARAMYOGI- hee mahapurush tujhe shat shat naman,india will never let u die in our throughts

ask | 9 years ago | Reply @shahid: on what authority do you say what you said about his religion & name? In such matters your personal opinions don't count. Only Mr.Kalam's word matters. Please do not start a silly controversy with confusing claims about the only non-controversial leader India has had.

Nav | 9 years ago | Reply Modi has called him a Marg darshak and Indian government has declared national mourning for seven days to remember APJ Abdul Kalam

Nav | 9 years ago | Reply “Dream is not that which you see while sleeping it is something that does not let you sleep.” ― A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Wings of Fire: An Autobiography

Navin | 9 years ago | Reply I still have tears in my eyes.. whenever I read this news... RIP, a man who dedicated his life to science and the country he was born. A man who never married because he wanted to serve the country full time, do scientific research, teach students and create next generation of leaders. A man who is father of India's satellite launch vehicles, missiles and a major planner for India's nuclear tests, disguised as Major Gen Prithviraj to make preparations for the nuclear tests. Even US could not find out when India was making preparations. A true south Indian muslim...India's People's President, loved by one and all... RIP..

shahid | 9 years ago | Reply He was a scholar and a devout Hindu with a Muslim name.

Nav | 9 years ago | Reply A great muslim, a true patriot and dedicated his life to India without marrying but building missiles, satellite launch vehicles, teaching students and preparing next generation of leaders. India granted highest honor by the way of Bharat Ratna. Also, Padma Vibhushana, Padma Bhushana and many more foreign and Indian awards. India's first citizen during 2002-2007, he was an inspiration for the people around the world with his life, quotes and teachings.. RIP...

ask | 9 years ago | Reply India lost today one of her brightest gems and finest of Citizens. Long live People's President!

vivek yadav | 9 years ago | Reply Mother India has lost one of her most prodigious sons . RIP , sir .

Bilal khan | 9 years ago | Reply R.I.P the most respectable president of India.MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE ,,,,A TRUE VISIONARY.Indeed India lost a good person and India acknowledged his service and made him president of India.

Animal Farm | 9 years ago | Reply The best President India ever had....and the only leader who had literally no haters at all ,even the most rabid Hindutva supporter liked him....

Manish | 9 years ago | Reply Great soul ! The great man who lived with true Indian values. A president who can be compared with Dr. Rajendra Prasad in giving a human touch to the office. I role model for us all Indian. Lets carry forward his work in true spirit !! RIP our beloved president !! I am in tears as I am writing this.

Singh | 9 years ago | Reply Lost another Father of modern India. Greatest son of soil. Leave behind big vacuum in every Indian heart. Can't write more as loss of word.

pat | 9 years ago | Reply thanks to his brains we did our second atomic test. CIA and its spy satellites couldnt even detect them.

The Economist | 9 years ago | Reply Quotes by Kalam "Dreams are not what u see in sleep,its something which don't let u sleep". "It's easy to defeat someone but its extremely difficult to win someone".

Raj - USA | 9 years ago | Reply Great Loss to India and Indians. He was an inspiration and motivation to all and was the most powerful President India has had.

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