Shillong: Former President APJ Abdul Kalam, a popular President between 2002 and 2007, passed away on Monday after he collapsed during a lecture in Shillong.
![APJ Abdul Kalam. Reuters]()
Kalam (84) took ill at a function in Shillong and was rushed to the hospital, M Kharkrang, SP Khasi Hills, said.
The former President collapsed during a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management in Shillong at around 6.30 pm and was taken to the hospital. TV reports earlier said that Kalam suffered a massive cardiac arrest at the function at IIM Shillong.
He had been admitted to the ICU at the hospital.
"The former president was brought almost dead to our hospital. He is in a critical condition. We are trying to revive the patient," John Sailo Ryntathiang, director of Bethany Hospital, had told IANS.
"He is in the Intensive Care Unit. We are examining him. We suspect that it could be cardiac arrest," Sailo had said.
Meghalaya Governor V Shanmughanathan and Chief Secretary PBO Warjri visited Bethany hospital where Kalam has been admitted.
Chief Secretary PBO Warjiri told reporters outside the hospital that he had spoken to Union Home Secretary LC Goyal asking for necessary arrangements to be made for carrying Kalam's body from Guwahati to Delhi on Tuesday morning.
The Meghalaya Governor, along with state government officials and defence personnel, will accompany his body to New Delhi, according to Times Now.
Government will declare national mourning for seven days, said Union Home Secretary LC Goyal.
Earlier during the day, Kalam had tweeted about his function at IIM Shillong.
Among the key reactions to this sad news, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled Kalam's death, describing him as "marg darshak".
Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted, saying that "Dr Kalam was a man of impeccable character, indomitable spirit, profound knowledge and firm conviction."
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, "His contribution as a scientist and as a President was unparalleled. The whole country will mourn his death and we will all continue to remain inspired by him."
Former President Pratibha Patil also reacted and told Times Now, "He was the best human being I came across. I feel very sorry. He had good humour, had very good presence of mind and always wanted to give something to society."
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said Kalam "won over the hearts and minds of a nation with his warmth and wisdom."
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, saying that the "nation has lost a real bharat ratna."
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also reacted to Kalam's demise as he told India Today, "He was a man who was always surrounded by knowledge. He never had an iota of politics around him."
Popularly called the "Missile Man" of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam rose from humble beginnings and earned the reputation of being the "people's President" who endeared himself to all all sections, especially the young.
A devout Muslim and son of a boatowner, Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, who assumed office as the 11th President on 18 July, 2002, was seen as a figurehead who could help heal some of the scars of the communal riots which broke out in Gujarat just a few months before.
Acknowledged as the driving force behind India's quest for cutting-edge defence technologies, Kalam's contributions to India's satellite programmes, guided and ballistic missiles project, nuclear weapons programme and the Light Combat Aircraft(LCA) project made him a household name.
(With agency inputs)
APJ Abdul Kalam. Reuters
The former President collapsed during a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management in Shillong at around 6.30 pm and was taken to the hospital. TV reports earlier said that Kalam suffered a massive cardiac arrest at the function at IIM Shillong.
He had been admitted to the ICU at the hospital.
"The former president was brought almost dead to our hospital. He is in a critical condition. We are trying to revive the patient," John Sailo Ryntathiang, director of Bethany Hospital, had told IANS.
"He is in the Intensive Care Unit. We are examining him. We suspect that it could be cardiac arrest," Sailo had said.
Meghalaya Governor V Shanmughanathan and Chief Secretary PBO Warjri visited Bethany hospital where Kalam has been admitted.
Chief Secretary PBO Warjiri told reporters outside the hospital that he had spoken to Union Home Secretary LC Goyal asking for necessary arrangements to be made for carrying Kalam's body from Guwahati to Delhi on Tuesday morning.
The Meghalaya Governor, along with state government officials and defence personnel, will accompany his body to New Delhi, according to Times Now.
Government will declare national mourning for seven days, said Union Home Secretary LC Goyal.
Earlier during the day, Kalam had tweeted about his function at IIM Shillong.
Among the key reactions to this sad news, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled Kalam's death, describing him as "marg darshak".
Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted, saying that "Dr Kalam was a man of impeccable character, indomitable spirit, profound knowledge and firm conviction."
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, "His contribution as a scientist and as a President was unparalleled. The whole country will mourn his death and we will all continue to remain inspired by him."
Former President Pratibha Patil also reacted and told Times Now, "He was the best human being I came across. I feel very sorry. He had good humour, had very good presence of mind and always wanted to give something to society."
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said Kalam "won over the hearts and minds of a nation with his warmth and wisdom."
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, saying that the "nation has lost a real bharat ratna."
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also reacted to Kalam's demise as he told India Today, "He was a man who was always surrounded by knowledge. He never had an iota of politics around him."
Popularly called the "Missile Man" of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam rose from humble beginnings and earned the reputation of being the "people's President" who endeared himself to all all sections, especially the young.
A devout Muslim and son of a boatowner, Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, who assumed office as the 11th President on 18 July, 2002, was seen as a figurehead who could help heal some of the scars of the communal riots which broke out in Gujarat just a few months before.
Acknowledged as the driving force behind India's quest for cutting-edge defence technologies, Kalam's contributions to India's satellite programmes, guided and ballistic missiles project, nuclear weapons programme and the Light Combat Aircraft(LCA) project made him a household name.
(With agency inputs)
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