Former president’s first death anniversary on Wednesday
SHILLONG: It’s almost a year now that the “Missile Man of India”, Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen (A. P. J.) Abdul Kalam, breathed his last in Shillong leaving entire Meghalaya and the country in a state of shock. The former president of India had collapsed while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong and subsequently declared dead at Bethany Hospital on July 27, 2015.
Even as a pall of gloom had descended on the city then, the death of the renowned scientist brought “the otherwise little heard of” Shillong in the limelight. Meanwhile, people, young and old, had lined up to pay tributes of the departed legend.
There is little doubt that the memory of Kalam is etched in the minds of every Shillongite and the “People’s President” by all means occupies a special place in their hearts.
Ahead of late Kalam’s first death anniversary, The Shillong Times spoke to a cross section of citizens on whether the State government should construct any monument or name a street or open a college in the legend’s name to commemorate his death anniversary.
Swami Achyuteshananda, secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, Vivekananda Cultural Centre favored the setting up of a monument which will make people aware of Kalam’s contribution to humanity.
“He has put Shillong in the national arena… A monument will make people more aware of the person that he was and his contribution to humanity,” he said.
Speaking on the late president’s personality, Swami Achyuteshananda recalled, “In this world we see a lot of people fighting for small things but for Kalam the main objective was to serve the masses through Science, especially the poor masses. He had a vision for a developed India.”
Advocating that discussions should be made in schools on Kalam’s contribution to Science and humanity at large, he said that such talks will inspire and instill in students the thought to contribute to the development of the nation.
“Kalam, who faced a lot of struggle in his early years, did a lot for the country.
“His popularity with the masses earned him the title of ‘People’s President’. Even his close interactions with the students are widely known,” he added.
UDP legislator Jemino Mawthoh recollected that three days before late Kalam’s death he had spoken about the vision the late former president had for the country while delivering a speech at Indian Climate Youth Network (ICYN).
Mawthoh felt that the former president should be honoured in a befitting manner by the government.
“The state government should do something to honour the ‘People’s President’,” the UDP leader said.
“He was a very important personality and it was an honour to have him here in our constituency,” he added.
Babu Kular Khongjirem, publicity secretary, Joint Action Committee of All Teachers Association of Meghalaya (JACATAM) echoed Mawthoh’s views.
“The state government should come up with something to honour him. He has brought recognition to Shillong and the state government should keep his memory alive in the State,” he said.
Former chief secretary, HWT Syiem also lauded Kalam’s contribution to the country.
He, however, said that it was entirely up to the state government to decide whether to open a college, name a street or erect a monument in the late president’s name.