SHILLONG: In remembrance of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, an epitome of intellect and simplicity, IIM Shillong organised an e-gathering to mark his fifth death anniversary on Monday.
Dr Kalam was closely associated with the institute as a guest faculty. ‘Creating a Liveable Planet Earth’ was the last lecture delivered by India’s Missile Man at the institute in 2015.
Senior faculty members of the Institute — Keya Sengupta, Sanjoy Mukherjee and Basav Roy choudhury — recalled his down-to-earth presence, wit and wisdom during engagements with him, particularly, between 2013 and 2015.
Students also fondly remembered him as a teacher with a difference and as a citizen who was genuinely concerned about India’s wellbeing as a country.
During one of his visits, Dr Kalam had exhorted the students of IIM Shillong saying, “I want to see all of you as creative leaders to bring about the required change.”
He was then on his second visit to teach a course on “Dimensions of National Development”.
During his session with the students, he regularly talked about the challenges faced by the country and the world at large, always emphasising on the role of leadership to tackle these issues and develop possible solutions. He was particularly fond of his concept of PURA (Providing Urban Amenities to Rural Areas), which focuses on rural development by providing opportunities through cooperative working of resource and social entrepreneur.
“This would enable our country to grow by shared efforts and overcome the challenges faced by the society,” the visionary Dr Kalam would say.
Alumni of IIM Shillong, who were fortunate to have been taught by him, remembered how Dr Kalam charted out the link between creative leadership & economic development, and his accentuation on the role of integrity among leaders for sustained success and development of the society.
The institute started the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Lecture Series in 2016 to honour his memory, and the past editions have been graced by the likes of Dr Manas K Mandal, Director General – Life Sciences, DRDO, Padma Vibhushan G Madhavan Nair, former Chairman of ISRO, Padma Bhushan Bikash Sinha, former director of the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics and Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre and Padma Bhushan Dr K Radhakrishnan, former Chairman of ISRO.
Inspired by the teachings and values of Dr Kalam, students of IIM Shillong started ‘Nurturing Minds’ in 2015.
The objective of the programme is to encourage learning and help nurture creativity, amongst socially and economically underprivileged school children of Shillong.
Dr kalam was once considered as the people’s president because of his popularity. Kalam, who was an aerospace scientist, served as the 11th president of India between 2002 and 2007.
Dr Kalam had died due to cardiac arrest while lecturing at the institute here.