President Pranab Mukherjee condoled the death of A P J Abdul Kalam and said the nation has lost a great son who was people's President during his lifetime and shall remain so even after his death.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of former President APJ Abdul Kalam and said he has lost a "marg darshak" who took India to new heights in the field of science and technology.
The scientist, who authored several books, including India 2020: A Vision for the New Million, died on Monday evening after he collapsed during a lecture at the IIM Shillong.
"He was a great scientist who contributed immensely in the filed of science and technology as well as space. I have lost a marg darshark....He was a source of inspiration for the whole country, particularly the youth. Even in his last days, he remained connected," Modi said
President Pranab Mukherjee condoled the death of A P J Abdul Kalam and said the nation has lost a great son who was people's President during his lifetime and shall remain so even after his death.
In his message to the nation on the demise of Kalam, the President said, "I pay respectful homage to my late departed friend Kalam...His warmth, humility and simple ways endeared him to one and all. He had a special love for children and sought to constantly inspire the youth of our country through motivational speeches and personal interaction," Mukherjee said.
He said Kalam will be long remembered for his passion for science and innovations and his contributions as an eminent scientist, administrator, educationists and writer.
"For his tireless services to the nation, he was honoured with numerous prestigious awards...In his passing away, we have lost a great son of India who dedicated his entire life for the welfare of the motherland and its people. Dr Kalam was a people's President during his lifetime and will remain so even after his death," he said.
Also read: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam's body to be taken to Delhi today
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condoled the death of former President APJ Abdul Kalam on Monday night.
Speaking to ANI, Singh said, "I have learnt with profound sorrow about the demise of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Our country has lost great human being who made phenomenal contribution to promotion of self reliance in defence technologies. I worked very closely with Dr. Kalam as PM and I greatly benefitted from his advice as President of our country. His life and work will be remembered for generations to come."
Congress President Sonia Gandhi too in a statement expressed condolences and termed Kalam as an 'iconic leader'.
"Express deepest condolences at sudden demise of one of India’s iconic leaders and former President, Dr.Abdul Kalam," Sonia Gandhi said in a statement.
Vice President Hamid Ansari condoled the death of former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam and described him as a "visionary" and a "true son of India" whose life "will remain an inspiration to millions of youth in the country."
In his condolence message, Ansari said Kalam's contributions to the nation, in his capacity as a man of technology, a teacher and a leader "will be deeply cherished by a grateful nation."
"The guide of India s space and missile programs, Dr. Kalam s efforts saw India become a front ranking power in these spheres," he said.
The Vice President said Kalam was "a visionary with a deep conviction to see India emerging stronger, more peaceful and more equitable through the use of science and technology. He personified humility and boundless curiosity. His life will remain an inspiration to the millions of youth in the country."
Union Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "On a personal note I will miss him because while implementing Digital India, I wanted to have a long discussion with him to seek his guidance. But I am sorry, destiny did not want that. My very sincere condolences to this great man."
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa hailed Kalam as a youth icon, a great inspirational scientist and a beloved son of Tamil Nadu.
"It was with profound grief and sorrow that I learnt his sudden demise.... I join the people of India and of Tamil Nadu in deeply mourning his passing away."
She said he began his life from a very humble background, being born into a poor family in Rameshwaram, and later rose to the greatest heights through dint of sheer perseverance, hard work and brilliance.
"His contributions to India's space, missile and nuclear programmes are well known. A visionary scientist, he gave India the pride of place on the global stage of space technology and research."
Related read: Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa and Guv Rosaiah condole Abdul Kalam's death
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar termed the death of former President A P J Abdul Kalam as a personal loss.
"This is a personal loss for me. Dr Kalam was a great scientist and eminent social worker. On my request, he had come to Bihar on a number of occasions and guided the development of the state. He had also immensely contributed towards setting up of the Nalanda International University," Kumar said.
Former chief minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi both condoled the death of Kalam saying it was an irreparable loss.
"He was not just an astute statesman, Kalam was also a scholar and a renowned scientist. Despite being the President, he always used to relate and react with the common people and under his supervision, India's defence system got a huge boost," Lalu said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled the death of former President A P J Abdul Kalam and said she shared a special bond with him. Banerjee tweeted from the United Kingdom where she was on a five-day visit.
Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said every Indian will feel a deep sense of personal loss in the death of former President A P J Abdul Kalam, who had endeared himself to all sections of the people.
"In recent history, only a few people had endeared themselves to the young and old, to the poor and the rich, to the educated and the unlettered, and to the people belonging to different faiths and speaking different languages...At the same I pay tribute to the life and work of Kalam as a teacher, scientist, as a team leader, as the first citizen of India, and above all, a great human being filled with love and compassion," he said.
Related read: Pall of gloom descends on Dr Abdul Kalam's native place, Rameswaram
Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel condoled the death of former President of India A P J Abdul Kalam, by saying the nation has lost an eminent scientist and a polite human being.
"My deepest condolence over the sad demise of former President A P J Abdul Kalam..Nation has lost an eminent scientist and a polite human being. I pray for heavenly peace of the departed soul," she said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too took to Twitter to express his condolences.
Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar described Kalam as a scientist who was a saint at heart.
"An Indian par excellence. A President who opened President's house to public. People's President who was and will be loved by people of all ages. A teacher at heart, Dr. Kalam passed away while addressing the students. I hope and pray that youth of India will pay tribute to this great legend by walking on the path shown by Dr. Kalam," he said.
Maharashtra education minister Vinod Tawde said, "Today our nation's 'Wings of Fire' are extinguished and the nation mourns. Let us all pray for deliverance of our beloved APJ Abdul Kalam."
Also read: No state holiday for schools, colleges today, says Maharashtra education minister Vinod Tawde
Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad condoled the death of Kalam and said he was a "darling" of the people of this nation.
"After Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, he was the second most popular leader among the youth and students. In his death, the nation has lost a youth icon," he said.
BJP president Amit Shah said Kalam was a "true patriot & a rare combination of science, education & morality....India has lost its Missile Man."
Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje said Kalam was a huge inspiration for generations while her Delhi counterpart and Delhi chief minister Arvidn Kejriwal said the nation has lost a "true Bharat Ratna".
NCP supremo Sharad Pawar said Kalam showed that despite reaching the top post, he led by an example on how to lead a clean and transparent public life.
Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, who also served in the cabinet when Kalam was the President, said he was "rooted to the ground" and was humble even when he occupied the top post in the country. Paswan recalled that during his visits to President's House he always treated him as a family member.
JD(U) president Sharad Yadav said he was "an ideal person who inspired all generations and his demise is a huge loss to value-based polity."
In his condolence message, chief minister Oommen Chandy, said the former President was a person who earned respect of all, including foreign nations. In the arena of Space Research, he took India to International heights and made the office of President more "people friendly", Chandy said.
Dr Kalam had special love for Kerala as he had spent many years in the state during his stint as scientist at VSSC in Kerala, he said.
Former Union ministers, A K Antony, Vayalar Ravi, state Health Minister, V S Sivakumar, M K Muneer, CPI(M) State secretary, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, were among those who remembered Kalam.
The former president had on July 28, 2005, addressed members of the Legislative Assembly and presented Kerala with a 10-point agenda aimed at making the state an economic power house by 2015. He delivered a historic address in the assembly and had urged Kerala to identify its core competencies and adopt 10 different missions, including development of tourism, waterways and deep sea fishing besides creation of an army of nurses and paramedics to meet the rising demand at national and global levels.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Monday expressed his condolences over the demise of former President APJ Abdul Kalam via Twitter.
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