RAMESWARAM: In a spontaneous outpouring of grief, thousands of people bid an emotional farewell to former President APJ Abdul Kalam who was on Thursday laid to rest with full state honours in his home town here amid chants of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai".
The body of Kalam was buried in the middle of a 1.5 acre piece of land earmarked for the purpose at Peikarumbu here after being brought from his family mosque where special prayers were offered.
The "People's President" was accorded full military honours, including gun salute and playing of the Last Post as the members of his family and local Jamath lowered his mortal remains into a trench as slogans of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" rent the air.
The funeral of the "Missile Man" was attended by a galaxy of leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who placed a wreath, offered his final salute and stood in silence in front of Kalam's body that was draped in national flag. He also went around the casket with folded hands.
The Prime Minister later went up to Kalam's eldest brother 99-year-old Mohammed Muthu Meeran Lebbai Maraicker, who was seated nearby, and offered his condolences.
Much before he became "a people's President" in 2002, Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was already a national icon as the "Missile Man of India", an inspiration to children and scientists around the country.
Known more for his inspirational leadership with the scientists who worked under him being fiercely loyal, Kalam was the brainchild behind the launch of the country's indigenous integrated guided missile development programme (IGMDP) in 1983. Incidentally, the defence minister at that time was R Venkataraman, who too went on to become the country's President.
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