Early Times Report
Srinagar, July 28: The death of former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam has been mourned in Kashmir Valley, where people in the past 25 years of conflict have, by and large, avoided condoling demise of any political or prominent personality from India.
Apart from mainstream politicians, it's students, professionals and retired officials who have mourned Kalam's demise. While social networking websites were flooded with condolence messages, on private radio station Big 92.7, scores of people paid tributes to the former President.
The radio station in Srinagar, which started with obituary on Kalam, received numerous phone calls from across the Valley, with everyone wanting his/her condolence or opinion about the departed soul be aired.
On Facebook, most of the people preferred to share inspiring quotes of Kalam. "He lived as a teacher, he died as a teacher," Bashir Budgami, filmmaker of Kashmiri movie Habba Khatoon, wrote on his wall.
"Jammu and Kashmir Police will always be grateful to President Kalam to travel to Udhampur to grace Sher-e-Kashmir Police Academy and bestow Presidential colours to us," wrote former Inspector General of Police Farooq Ahmed who said he was fortunate enough to have rubbed shoulders with the visiting dignitary during his 2006 trip of Jammu and Kashmir.
Journalist Qureshi Khurshid while sharing a picture of Kalam posted this famous Urdu couplet: "Badi mushkil sey hota hai chaman main deedawar paida."
"RIP APJ Abdul Kalam: Salute to the great man who has been a motivation and inspiration for all of us," posted former National Conference leader Salman Sagar.
Most of the people remembered Kalam for his "absolute humility in all walks of life" and said his "down to earth attitude should serve a role model for celebrities."
Commenting on the tributes pouring in from Kashmir over Kalam's death, a civil society activist said: "It is a welcome development that mindset of people has started changing in Kashmir. Perceptions have changed because people are fed up of separatist politics which has failed to fetch any results."
Kalam, the 'Missile man' of India, who came to be known as 'People's President' died on Monday after he collapsed during a lecture at the IIM in Shillong. He was 84.
Considered the most popular President, Kalam became the 11th head of the state and occupied the post between 2002 and 2007. But lack of consensus denied a second term in office for a man who came from outside political spectrum. |
