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Shocked Shillong bears memories of Abdul Kalam's last minutes

Last Updated 28 July 2015, 19:19 IST
On Tuesday, Meghalaya was still coming to terms with the shocking death of India’s 11th President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who collapsed at IIM Shillong as he began delivering a lecture.

Amid the cold early morning wind that swept the Shillong Plateau, an IAF chopper got ready at the East Command helipad to carry Dr Kalam’s remains, an unimaginable scene merely a few hours ago as the ‘Missile Man’ walked into the IIM auditorium with characteristic enthusiasm.

Shocked Shillong did not sleep in the night, since the time Dr Kalam’s death broke out from the city’s Bethany Hospital.

Thousands were out on the streets chanting “Long Live Dr Kalam” and “Abdul Kalam zindabad”. “People in Shillong did not know that Dr Kalam was in town. The IIM kept the event low-key and even the media was not present. But when news of his death broke out, the city was in mourning,” said local journalist Purbasha Bhattacharjee.

Kalam considered the pine city one of his favourite destinations and he had travelled to far-flung places in the north-east. In his death, Kalam has left Shillong awestruck.

He has apparently congratulated SOT (special operation team) personnel for being alert throughout the road trip from Guwahati on Monday evening.

The overwhelmed Police personnel told Kalam “Sir Aap ke liye to six hours bhi khere hoke duty karenenge” (Sir, For you we can easily stand at one place and perform our duty).

The sprawling Rajiv Gandhi IIM bears an eerily silent look. “Students were preparing for a very special lecture from Dr Kalam,” the IIM’s director Amitabha De said. “He was here thrice before and, on Monday, he was here to speak on creating a liveable planet for the second year students,” De recalled.

Arriving at the institute at 5:30 pm, Dr Kalam proceeded to the auditorium at 6:30 pm after refreshments.

The trademark Kalam suit and the smiles meant business was as usual for students, who eagerly waited to hear the former president. But as he began speaking about his experiences with students, Dr Kalam collapsed and fell unconscious.

One of the greatest teachers of modern India breathed his last, fittingly, in a lecture hall in the middle of doing what he liked the most.

“Our seniors told us about their experiences with Dr Kalam and asked us not to miss the opportunity,” a student said over phone. “We were overjoyed to see him, but everything happened so suddenly.” The students followed him to the Bethany’s hospital where he was pronounced dead.
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(Published 28 July 2015, 19:19 IST)

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