When the city fell under Kalam’s spell

The former President last visited Mangaluru in 2014

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam being welcomed by Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim in Mangaluru in 2014.

The former Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who passed away on Monday, had visited Mangaluru last in 2014.

Earlier, he had visited the city on February 25, 2009 to Corporation Bank152 and as the President, he had visited St. Aloysius College on March 28, 2003.

On an invitation by the District Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) Committee he had visited the city on April 1, 2014 and addressed students at the TMA Pai International Convention Centre.

While addressing students he had described Mangaluru as a beautiful and vibrant place and told students that they had a greater role to play in making Mangaluru the cleanest city.

Recalling his links to Mangaluru, Mr. Kalam said that when he was a student at the Madras Institute of Technology in 1954, the student, who sat next to him, was Mahabaleshwar Bhat from Mangalore.

He advised students to have a great aim in life, acquire knowledge continuously, work hard and not to be afraid of problems in life but rather defeat them.

A leader should not be afraid of problems and Mr. Kalam asked students to elect such candidates.

Unable to accommodate all students in the main auditorium on the first floor, the committee made alternative arrangements to seat about 1,000 students at a hall on the ground floor.

Students on the ground floor saw and listened to Mr. Kalam on three large LCD screens.

Mr. Kalam received a standing ovation from most of the students and a camaraderie of sorts was in the air as the octogenarian began.

He took his seat, waved at the students and said; “Can you hear me. You are fantastic guys.”

At Corporation Bank

After his tenure as the President came to an end, he had addressed students and others on the topic “Me and my society” at the Corporation Bank head office at Pandeshwar on February 25, 2009.

The talk had been organised by the district administration.

Aloysius College

Mr. Kalam during his time as the President had inaugurated the Information Technology, Research and Management Centre of St. Aloysius College on March 28, 2003.