JOIN USUS President Barack Obama as well as his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have joined the global leaders in condoling the death of India's missile man A P J Abdul Kalam, saying he was an inspiration to millions of Indians and had admirers around the world.
"On behalf of the American people, I wish to extend my deepest condolences to the people of India on the passing of former Indian President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam," Obama said.
"A scientist and statesman, Kalam rose from humble beginnings to become one of India's most accomplished leaders, earning esteem at home and abroad," the US President said in a statement yesterday.
An advocate for stronger US-India relations, Kalam worked to deepen our space cooperation, forging links with NASA during a 1962 visit to the United States, he said.
"His tenure as India's 11th president witnessed unprecedented growth in US-India ties. Suitably named 'the People's President', Dr. Kalam’s humility and dedication to public service served as an inspiration to millions of Indians and admirers around the world," Obama said.
President Putin said that in Russia Kalam will be remembered as a consistent exponent of closer friendly relations between the two nations who has done a lot for cementing mutually beneficial Russian-Indian cooperation.
"Kalam rightly enjoyed high international authority as an outstanding scientist and a wise statesman," Putin said in letters to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday.
"It is difficult to overestimate his personal contribution to social, economic, scientific and technical progress of India and in ensuring its national security," he said.
Kalam, 83, died on Monday after he suffered a massive cardiac arrest and collapsed during a lecture at the IIM Shillong.
Meanwhile in Sri Lanka today, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also mourned Kalam's demise.
Wickremesinghe said: "The last time when I met Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam was when I hosted him for lunch (late June) I have known him well from the time he was the President of India and the last time I was the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka."
In a message released in Colombo, the premier said he and Kalam "had a lot in common".
"For instance, he was born in Rameswaram in the Palk Strait and many of his relations live in Mannar, Anuradhapura and Puttlam. This had led to lively discussions between us because he had, in the distant past, on many occasions, entered Sri Lanka illegally as was the practice in those areas in the 1950s.
"His main concern was to use science and technology for human advancement and good neighbourliness. At our last meeting, we discussed using SAARC as a vehicle for peace and economic prosperity. Another interest we shared was the PURA concept - providing urban facilities for rural areas," he said.
Wickeremesinghe added that Kalam had given him "his book on the topic Target 3 Billion (written with Srijan Pal Singh), which I was reading when he died. I have no doubt that his vision for the region and his innovative ideas on sustainable development will influence our own development initiatives and practice for years to come."
Kalam visited Sri Lanka on a three-day trip on June 25 during which he attended an energy symposium before meeting President Maithripala Sirisena and the Prime Minister Wickremesinghe.