Former ISRO chairman remembers 'fantastic human being' Kalam

Former ISRO chairman U.R. Rao on Tuesday remembered his close friend, the late leader Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, as a fantastic human being who was working till the last moment.

Array

"He is a fantastic human being, and till the last moment he was working, I think that's the greatest thing to do," said Rao.

Array

Top leaders, including Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh, were among those present who paid their tributes to India's Missile Man at his 10, Rajaji Marg residence.

Array

Kalam's last rites will be performed at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu on Thursday.

Array

The public is currently paying homage to the late president at his residence.

Array

Parliament has been adjourned for two days. Its members offered their tribute and observed two-minutes of silence as a mark of respect to the late leader's memory.

Kalam passed away in Shillong last evening.

He collapsed after suffering a massive cardiac arrest while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management in Shillong yesterday.

The government has declared a seven-day national mourning as a mark of respect for Dr. Kalam, who played a stellar role in advancing India's nuclear programme.

Considered one of the most popular presidents of India, Kalam became the11th head of the state and occupied the post between 2002 and 2007 during the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.