Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, widely acclaimed as the “people’s President”, passed away on 27th July,after collapsing during a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management in Shillong.Mr. Kalam, the country’s 11th President, was one of India’s most eminent scientists, and had the unique honour of receiving honorary doctorates from 30 universities and institutions.
He was the President between 2002 and 2007, took the lead in the conduct of India’s nuclear tests in May 1998 and was later fielded as the National Democratic Alliance candidate by then Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee.
