Virender Sehwag Pays Tribute to APJ Abdul Kalam on His Death Anniversary
Jul 27, 2017 at 3:43 PM
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag, who is known for his wit in the social media gave a tribute to the former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam on his death anniversary.
Lauding the exceptional leader, Sehwag said they don’t make people like him anymore. Taking to his Twitter handle, Sehwag shared a picture where he is seen receiving an award from the legendary leader who inspired one and all during his lifetime.
“Tributes to a great President and one of the greatest ever Indian’s #APJAbdulKalam on his death anniversary. They don’t make like him anymore,” Sehwag wrote on his twitter handle.
Tributes to a great President and one of the greatest ever Indian's #APJAbdulKalam on his death anniversary.They don't make like him anymore pic.twitter.com/XimEDqQ3vP
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 27, 2017
Kalam was India’s 11th President with his tenure ranging from 2002-2007. A scientist turned statesman Kalam was born and brought up in Tamil Nadu and was a student of physics and aerospace engineering. He spent his next forty years as a scientist at the Defence Research and Development Organisation and Indian Space Research Organisation.
Kalam succeeded KR Narayan as India’s 11th President, as he won the 2002 presidential election with an electoral vote of 922,884 beating Lakshmi Sahgal who secured 107,366 votes. His tenure started from 25th July 2002 and ended on the same date five years later.
On July 27, 2015, Kalam travelled to Shillong to give a lecture on “Creating a Livable Planet Earth” at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong. While going up the stairs, Kalam felt a bit of discomfort but entered the auditorium after taking a brief rest. Only five minutes into his lecture, Kalam collapsed on the ground.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital in a critical condition and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Though he was placed in ICU, he lacked any pulse or signs of life and was confirmed dead after the leader suffered a heart attack at 7:45 in the evening. Apparently, his final words to his aide Srijan Pal Singh were ‘Funny guy! Are you doing well?
Kalam was a hero to the whole nation and hence after his death, there was an outpour of grief and a special tribute was paid to him on the social media. The Indian Government declared a seven day mourning period as a mark of respect to the great leader. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Kalam’s death is a great loss to the scientific community.