Rameswaram, Tributes were paid to former President Dr Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam on his 89th birth anniversary in his home town of Rameswaram on Thursday.Ramanathapuram District Collector K.Veera Raghava Rao was among senior revenue officials, besides scientists from the DRDO paid their homage at the memorial of Dr.Kalam.
The memorial was decked up with floral beautification.Dr.Kalam’s family members, led by his elder brother A.P.J.Mohammed Muthu Meeran Maraikayar offered “dua” (special prayers) at his memorial.Public were not allowed to visit the memorial in view of COVID-19 restrictions.The birth anniversary of Dr Kalam, who was also fondly called as “Missile Man of India,” was observed as the “Youth Renaissance Day” every year in Tamil Nadu.Born on October 15, 1931 in Rameswaram, Dr.Kalam served as the 11th President of India between 2002 and 2007. He played a crucial role in the 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests and was closely associated with the country’s space programmes.He died of heart attack while delivering a lecture at the India Institute of Management (IIM) in Shillong on July 27, 2015 at the age of 83.