Sydney, July 30 : Indians in most cities of Australia are coming together on Friday evening to pay their emotional tribute to ex-president, lovingly called the people’s president, A P J Abdul Kalam, whose last rites were conducted on Thursday in his hometwon Rameswaram.
Kalam passed away in Shillong, Meghalaya, on Monday evening while delivering a lecture to graduate students.
The candlelight vigil in memory of Dr. Kalam, will be held in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide from 5.30 p.m. onwards on Friday.
Once the country’s pinnacle scientist and dubbed as father of Indian missile program, Kalam loved teaching and spending most of his time with students even during his tenure as President of India.
His last lecture was ‘Liveable Planet Earth’ to business management students in Shillong.
Kalam was president from 2002 till 2007, and was a scientist and science administrator for four decades before that.
He spent most of his time with the state-run Defense Research and Development Organisation and the Indian Space Research Organisation.
OFBJP Australia and the Indian diaspora in Australia mourn the sad parting most one of the most admired presidents of India.
“A true Indian statesman, a scholar, an engineer, scientist, author & teacher was an inspirational power to uncounted Indians around the world,” said Balesh Singh Dhankhar, President OFBJP Australia.
“He was not only a respected scientist, but also a great author and spiritual person as well. As a true Indian although Dr Kalam was a Muslim, his knowledge of Hindu philosophy had fine depth,” he added. (ANI)