New Delhi: The government has declared a seven-day national mourning period, as a mark of respect for A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, a renowned missile scientist, who played a stellar role in advancing India’s nuclear programme.
“As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, seven days of state mourning will be observed throughout India from July 27, 2015 to August 2, 2015, both days inclusive,” an official statement said.
During the period of state mourning, the national flag will fly at half-mast on all buildings throughout the country where it is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment.
Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned after paying tributes to Abdul Kalam. The Lok Sabha has been adjourned until July 30.
The Union Cabinet held a special meeting in New Delhi over Abdul Kalam’s death.
Tributes and accolades flooded social media as people remembered Kalam.
While some took to Twitter and Facebook to express their sense of loss and share photos, quotes and stories of the noted scientist, instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp were conspicuously bereft of jokes and memes.
Abdul Kalam’s body was brought to Delhi from Guwahati at about 12.15pm. The casket carrying the body was wrapped in the Tricolour and hymns played as it was carried to the aircraft in Guwahati.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Pranab Mukherjee and three defence services chiefs were present at the Delhi airport to receive the body. His remains were carried by a gun carriage to his residence in Delhi, 10 Rajaji marg, where people paid homage to the late leader.
The last rites for the “People’s President” will be performed on Wednesday in his hometown of Rameswaram, in Tamil Nadu.
As the nation mourned his death, Modi said in his tribute, “My mind is filled with so many memories, so many interactions with him. Always marvelled at his intellect, learnt so much from him.”
President Mukherjee said of Abdul Kalam, “after 1977 only Dr Abdul Kalam was elected President unopposed. Even during Dr Rajendra Prasad’s nomination there was a contest, it was useless but still there was a contest.”
In honour of Abdul Kalam, Andhra Pradesh state government employees worked an extra hour on Tuesday. Telangana state government declared a holiday Tuesday as a mark of respect to Abdul Kalam. All government offices, educational institutions in Hyderabad and nine other districts of Telangana remained closed.
Bihar’s state government has renamed Bihar Agricultural University (Kishanganj) as Dr Abdul Kalam Agricultural University as a tribute to the former president.
Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani announced that the Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan will be renamed as APJ Abdul Kalam Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan as a tribute to the former president.
