“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 on Tuesday.
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 on Tuesday.
“It is difficult to overestimate his personal contribution to <g data-gr-id="30">social,</g> 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.”