NEW DELHI: Owing to the legacy of the ‘Missile man of India’ the Delhi government has decided to build a memorial for the former president APJ Abdul Kalam in the national capital.
The memorial, which will have the notes, books, clothes and other personal items of the former president, will be opened to the public on July 27 – Kalam’s death anniversary at Dilli Haat, INA.
Kapil Mishra Delhi’s culture minister who is currently in Kalam’s hometown Rameshwaram to collect his personal belongings from his family said “Till the memorial is built the articles will be displayed in the Delhi Vidhan Sabha. We had said that the memorial should be made in Delhi instead of Rameshwaram. The family supported us and was glad to hand over the things to us.”
“We welcome this step taken by the Delhi government. Delhi is the right place for Kalam’s memories to be showcased. I mean one person has specially gone to his hometown to collect Kalam's things that shows the interest that they are taking” R.K Prasad, who worked with Kalam as his private secretary for 21 years told Express.
Last year, the Delhi Assembly passed a resolution to set up a knowledge center in the city to honor Kalam. The Aam Aadmi Party had earlier severely criticised the central government for allotting Kalam’s official bungalow – 10 Rajaji Marg - to Union Tourism and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma.
The Delhi government had constituted a team to safely bring Kalam’s belongings back from Rameswaram. The items were sent to his family members in Rameshwaram when the bungalow was allotted to Sharma.