"He wanted the younger generation to prevent the language from fading into oblivion. He regretted the declining interest of the younger generation in the language," he said, who was his classmate during his days at college in Tiruchirapalli.
The octogenarian recalled that Kalam always made it a point to visit him when he was in the city.
The former President died at Bethany Hospital in Shillong, Meghalaya yesterday after he collapsed during a lecture at the IIM.
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