APJ Abdul Kalam's statue unveiled at DRDO unit in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: A bronze statue of the late APJ Abdul Kalam was today unveiled here at the residential campus of Research Centre Imarat (RCI), a DRDO unit which the former President had established.

"My mind is filled with so many memories and so many interactions with Kalam right from 1980s. He is the man who established RCI and has seen its transcendence," G Satheesh Reddy, Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister, said after unveiling the statue near the Faculty House of RCI campus, where Kalam used to stay.

He noted that it was Kalam who had formulated the country's Integrated Missile Programme and propelled India towards emerging as a missile power.

Reddy said the great visionary's memory and inspirational words would always remain alive in their hearts and keep motivating the scientific fraternity to aspire towards greater heights and set new benchmarks in the years to come.

"His dreams are never-ending. The greatest tribute we can pay him is to fulfil his dreams and realise his vision for the country," he added.

Describing Kalam as "our mentor, a visionary, and a saint", NITI Aayog member VK Saraswat said he had always dreamt of the good of the common man.

Kalam provided such a strong foundation for India's missile technology field that, for years to come, the country would be self-sufficient in this area, he said.

The former President brought in such values among youth that today, every youth gets motivated by the sheer mention of the name "Dr Kalam", added Saraswat, a former DRDO chief.

RCI also organised a Kalam Memorial Science Council wherein Prof D Balasubramanian of LV Prasad Eye Institute delivered a talk on 'Biology of Music'.

Eminent scientists, including RN Agarwal, Prahlada, SK Salwan and several close associates of Kalam from the Missile Complex right from 1982 paid floral tributes to the former President, who passed away on July 27.

Top DRDO officials, including Satish Kumar, Director General (Missiles), were also present for the ceremony.