The family of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has expressed a desire that the memorial to be built at Pei Karumbu, where the mortal remains for Kalam were laid to rest, should emerge as a ‘Centre for Knowledge’ with library and facilities for students to enrich and empower themselves.
Thanking the State government for announcing that Kalam’s birthday on October 15 would be observed as ‘Youth Awakening Day’ every year and for instituting an award in his name, V. Ponraj, scientific advisor to Kalam, requested the government on behalf of the family to build the memorial, fulfilling the aspirations of the family.
The government should establish a library and display Kalam’s ‘Ten Commandments’ to the public in Tamil and English. Kalam had “ten commandments” not only for students, teachers and youths, but also for those in the media and police, Mr. Ponraj said.
“We do not want people to just visit the memorial, offer prayers and leave,” he said, adding all those who visited the memorial, especially the youths and school students, should spend at least an hour and take a pledge to carry forward the missions of Kalam.
The Centre should declare October 15 as ‘National Students Day’ Mr. Ponraj said. “The family’s plea to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regards stands,” he said.
He urged the authorities to provide a bus stop near the burial site and parking arrangements.
