SEE PIC: Kiran Bedi tweets a picture of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam's chappals to highlight his simplicity

Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi on Thursday paid tribute to former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam after visiting his memorial near Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.

In a series of tweets posted on Friday, Bedi hailed the former president for his simplistic life and even shared a picture of his sandals to highlight the same. “These Chappals of Dr Kalam were in the suitcase of his last journey to Shillong. ( See how worn out they were and had even been repaired),” she tweeted.

These Chappals of Dr Kalam were in the suitcase of his last journey to Shillong. ( See how worn out they were and had even been repaired) pic.twitter.com/XjJoxBjhNE

— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) 1 September 2017

A career scientist turned statesman, Dr Kalam was born and raised in Rameswaram  and studied physics and aerospace engineering.

He spent the next four decades as a scientist and science administrator, mainly at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and was intimately involved in India's civilian space programme and military missile development efforts.

He was elected as the 11th President of India in 2002 with the support of both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the then-opposition Indian National Congress. Widely referred to as the "People's President,"[6] he returned to his civilian life of education, writing and public service after a single term. He was a recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.

While delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong, Kalam collapsed and died from an apparent cardiac arrest on 27 July 2015, aged 83.