Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday dedicated to the nation, ‘Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam National Memorial’ built at the burial site of the former president at Pei Karumbu near here, coinciding with the late leader’s second death anniversary.
After hoisting the tricolour and followed by the playing of National anthem, Mr. Modi declared open the memorial, built by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as a tribute to Kalam, for his role in the the development of the organisation.
Mr. Modi also unveiled a plaque and a statue of Kalam playing veena inside the memorial before paying floral tributes and placing a wreath on his Samadhi, Mr. Modi met the family members of Kalam and briefly interacted with Kalam’s elder brother, centenarian A.P.J.M. Maraikayar, by exchanging greetings. He also took a group photograph with the family members.
Defence Secretary (Research and Development) and DRDO Chairman S. Christopher briefed the Prime Minister about the features of the memorial. Ninety odd acrylic paintings and more than 500 portraits portraying Kalam’s life, right from his childhood to his days at the DRDO,ISRO and at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan were on the display.
Memorable painting
The painting of his final address to the students of IIM at Shillong, where he collapsed and died of heart attack was on the display.
Two silicon statues of Kalam in standing and sitting postures in the presidential suit were also installed inside the memorial.
After the inauguration, Mr. Modi flagged off the ‘Kalam Sandesh Vahini,’ an exhibition bus, explaining Kalam’s vision 2020. The bus would criss-cross different States before reaching Rashtrapathi Bhavan on October 15, coinciding with Kalam’s 86th birth anniversary.
