Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, July 16: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that Modi’s “New India” will realize former President Late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s “Vision 2020”.
Addressing a Memorial programme organized by Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam International Foundation, on the eve of the third death anniversary of former President Late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Dr Jitendra Singh said, he was fortunate to have personally known Late Dr APJ Kalam from close quarters, both as a human being as well as a scientist. He said, it was, therefore, as a humble tribute to this great luminary that soon after he (Dr Kalam) passed away while delivering a lecture at IIM Shillong, it was decided in the Ministry of Northeast / DoNER to immediately set up “APJ Kalam Chair” in IIM Shillong, which has now further developed into “APJ Kalam Study Centre”
Dr Jitendra Singh said, it was a providential coincidence that he had the opportunity of frequently interacting with APJ Kalam during the last few months before his death, primarily because, the late President had started taking interest in research on the causes and prevention of cancer and the study of various carcinogens. Though Kalam was not a Medical professional, he said, it was a natural craving for scientific research inside him which inspired him to look at every aspect of life through a scientific prism, which is the reason that even though he was a student of physics and aeronautics by education and training, he got interested in medical research when he observed the rising prevalence of cancer in India.
Dwelling on APJ Kalam’s illustrious journey from Guindy Engineering College in Chennai to Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi, Dr Jitendra Singh said, Kalam was one of those Presidents who added to the grace and prestige of Rashtrapati Bhawan and unlike some of his predecessors, he had already been awarded a Bharat Ratna, long before he became the President of India.
Sheikh Saleem and Sheikh Dawood, the grandsons of Late APJ Kalam’s brother were present on the occasion on behalf of the Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam International Foundation. Awards were also given to some distinguished personalities to commemorate the memory and legacy of Late APJ Kalam.
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