Kolkata: For many people across the world trying to figure out where Shillong is, after the demise of former Indian president APJ Abdul Kalam, who died there on Monday, this obscure capital of the little known Indian state of Meghalaya is probably his last legacy.
This picturesque hill town, which hardly draws any media attention whether within India or globally, is suddenly being talked about as the place where Kalam breathed his last.
“He was known as the people’s president. He fulfilled this until his last moment where he literary redrew the map of India on a global platform,” a professor of Indian Institute of Management, Shillong, who was in the auditorium that fateful evening said.
As the city mourns his death, many people said even in his last moments he served his country.
“Dr Kalam wanted each one of us to serve his country until the end. He proved that throughout his life and now in last breath where he got Shillong the attention it always craved for,” said Chris Cajee, a businessman.
“He had a craving to know India. As president he visited obscure places to touch the real people. Nobody can believe that a former president at this age can travel to a remote town to deliver a lecture. This was Kalam’s legacy,” said Sushan Murli, a former colleague of the scientist.
Kalam in one of his speeches had said, “Don’t declare a holiday on my death. Instead work an extra day, if you love me.”
However, several states including Meghalaya, Telangana and Karnataka ignored his request and declared a holiday on Tuesday to honour the man.
The Indian parliament is even adjourned until July 30, so that parliamentarians can attend his last rights in his hometown Ramesharam.
“We should have lived up to his ideals. The parliament should work an extra-day on Saturday or Sunday in his remembrance,” said Purno Sangma, former speaker of the Lok Sabha [upper house of parliament].
