Former President Kalam Buried in Southern India

Thousands poured into Rameswaram, some walked miles, to pay their last respects to former President Dr Abdul Kalam as he was laid to rest a little before noon at the Pei Karumbu ground in his hometown.

Prof Basab Roy Choudhury of IIM Shillong who was in attendance during Dr Kalam’s last lecture shared some significant facets of the former Presidents character traits.

Congress leader Gulam Nabi Azad and chief ministers of Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh – Siddaramaiah, Oommen Chandy and Chandrababu Naidu and CPI-M veteran VS Achuthanandan were also among those who paid their homage. On 30 July, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and other top leaders paid last tribute to the Missile Man of India.

Venkaiah Naidu and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar accompanied the casket.

Moreover, lakhs of ordinary people from across the country gathered to pay their last respects for the man they adore.

During a seven-day state mourning period until August 2, the national flag will fly at half-mast and there will be no official entertainment. “All our relatives have also arrived to attend the last rites”, APJMK Sheik Saleem, Kalam’s brother’s grandson, said.

Kalam’s mortal remains were taken in a procession from his home and kept at a mosque for performing of rituals. Born to a poor Muslim family in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, the father of the 11th president of India rented a boat to fishermen for a living. He was an eternal believer in the power of the ignited mind of the youth – which he termed as most powerful, on the earth, above the earth and under the earth.

Meanwhile, in a rare gesture, authorities of the famed Ramathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram conducted a special pooja by lighting “Moksha Deepam” to pray for Kalam’s soul. “It is sad that this gift has left us”, Rameshwaram resident A. Johnson told IANS.

“In Russia, Abdul Kalam will be remembered as a consistent exponent of closer friendly relations between our nations who has done a lot for cementing mutually beneficial Russian-Indian cooperation”, he said in a message.

“Kalam, during a visit to Srinagar, once said that he wanted to be seen as a “good human being only”. “It is really unfortunate we lost him all of a sudden while addressing the gathering on the topic of “Livable Planet” due to a massive cardiac arrest, we miss him dearly”, Mr. Eppanapally said.

Security has been tightened in and around Rameswaram in view of the large number of dignitaries who are expected to come.

Two days later the editor of the book, Sudha Sadanand of Westland called him.