Missile man of India APJ Abdul Kalam passes away, 7 day state mourning to be observed

India Today and agencies, New Delhi, July 27, 2015 : Former President APJ Abdul Kalam passed away in Shillong on Monday following a massive heart attack. He was 83.

india.com: "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. Following the death of ex-President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, it has officially been declared that there will be no state holiday for schools, colleges today. All Government offices to remain open today. Government has announced a seven-day state mourning in honour of former President APJ Abdul Kalam, however there will be no holiday.
economictimes.indiatimes.com: However, all central government offices will remain open and no holiday has been declared.
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.
The date, time and venue of the state funeral will be intimated later, it said.
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya government has declared Tuesday as a holiday in the state as a mark of respect to the former president.
kolkata24x7.com: The Central Government has declared a National holiday on Tuesday 28 July mourning the sad demise of Former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. All the Senior political leaders of the Country have paid their homage to the sudden death of Abdul Kalam who was never a politician himself.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee has expressed their condolences over the former President’s death.

Kalam collapsed at Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Shillong at about 6.52 pm while he was delivering a lecture. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital at Nongrim Hills where doctors pronounced him dead.

Arriving at the IIM-Shillong around 5.40 pm, he took rest for sometime and started the lecture on 'Livable Planet' at 6.35 pm. He collapsed minutes later, according to director, IIM-Shillong, Professor De. Kalam's last tweet said," Going to Shillong to take course on livable planet at IIM."

Kalam's body has been taken to the Military Hospital in Shillong and will be kept there for the night. It will be flown to Guwahati at 5.30 am on Tuesday by an Indian Air Force helicopter and from there to Delhi by a special aircraft. 

Government has decided to declare national mourning for seven days as a mark of respect for late former President Abdul Kalam, Union Home Secretary L C Goyal said. During the period of state mourning, the national flag will fly at half mast on all buildings throughout India where is it flown regularly. The Home Ministry is overseeing the arrangements for the funeral in consultation with members of the late President's family.

Kalam, who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007, was born in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu on 15 October 1931, and studied physics and aerospace engineering.

Kalam spent four decades as a scientist and science administrator at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

His role in development of ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology earned him the moniker - 'Missile Man'. Kalam played a pivotal role in the nuclear tests that India conducted in 1998 in Rajasthan's Pokharan.
Kalam, who was popularly referred as people's president of India, also wrote 14 books on various topics including bestsellers like India 2020 and Wings of Fire and Ignited Minds.

Kalam was conferred with Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, in 1997 for his immense and valuable contribution to country's scientific research and modernisation of defence technology.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his condolence message, described Kalam as an inspiring individual. "India mourns the loss of a great scientist, a wonderful President and above all an inspiring individual. RIP Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam," PM Modi said.

To mourn the death of Kalam the Union Government has also declared Tuesday as national holiday.

Kalam was the people's president. His endearing nature and undying commitment to see India progress and prosper had turned him into one of the most popular personalities of our times. One of his biggest passion was to interact with students to instill in them a fire to succeed in life. His personal life story starting from a poverty-ridden childhood, to a struggle to get education, and his contribution to India's missile technology was and will always remain a source of inspiration for the country.