America
Community pays homage to Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam
Community leaders from the tri-state area came together to
honor the memory of the former President A.P.J Abdul Kalam on Sunday at
Santoor restaurant, Glen Oaks, Queens, New York. The condolence meeting was
organized by George Abraham, Lal Motwani and B. Aravindakshan , the
chair persons of the organizing committee that received Dr. Kalam in New York in 2008.
Mr. Harbachan Singh, the General Secretary of the Indian
National Overseas Congress opened the meeting paying glowing tribute
to a man so great and highly educated and yet so humble and simple that his
rich legacy which is second to none and bodes well with the culture and milieu
of India
will be long remembered . Singh believed that he uplifted the mood
and desires of the Indians by inculcating dedication, honesty, mutual
respect and perseverance in their daily lives. He felt immensely grateful
and proud of his presidency.
Mr. George Abraham, the Chairman of INOC, USA spoke about
his humility while recalling his experience by getting invited to ride with him
in a car to the airport on his return trip. ‘He thanked me for organizing the
community reception bringing 33 Indian organizations together and said he
wouldn’t like to have it any other way and then added if there is unity of
minds, you can solve anything’. Mr. Lal Motwani spoke of his immense
talent and how he related with young people and requested that we all do our
best to keep his great legacy alive.
Mr. Aravindakshan spoke about his days
working with Dr. Kalam in ISRO and talked about his simplicity in everything
including the way he dressed and the food he has consumed. ‘He was just one of
us, an ordinary worker, though he was the program director'. Dr. Surinder
Malhotra, President of World Punjabi Organization spoke about his commitment to
pluralism and how he stayed above the fray of mixing politics and religion. Dr.
Jit Chandan, professor at the City
University talked about
how Dr. Kalam redefined leadership.
‘ To Dr. Kalam the leadership entails
taking responsibility when there is a failure and sharing credit with others
when success is attained’ Dr. Chandan added. Mr. Juned Qazi,
President of INOC, USA spoke about how Dr. Kalam
made India
stronger in the field of science and Technology and paid tribute to his many
contributions in that arena. Prof. Inderjit Saluja of the Indian Panorama
spoke about how Dr. Kalam epitomized the best in a human being and said he has
set a high benchmark for all of us.
Dr. Satnam Parhar, the
President of IALI (Indian Association of Long Island) reminded that Dr. Kalam
is an example of how simplicity could win over the hearts and minds of
the common man and said he was a noble soul and totally unpretentious.
Mr. R.
Jayachandran, President of the Kerala Chapter spoke about his unique ability in
motivating young people and encouraging them to dream for a brighter
future. Mr. Vinod Kearke, legal advisor for the Kerala Chapter described
Dr. Kalam as a teacher above everything while Mr. Prasad Kambhampaty, the
Executive Committee member of INOC, USA recalled the days when he worked for the Bhabha Atomic
Research Center
listening to visiting Dr. Kalam who used to give motivational speeches that
energized the young scientists.
Mr. Imran Mohammed of NRI-SAHI lauded the
people’s president while Leela Maret, Vice-President of INOC, Kerala Chapter
and the President of the Women’s Forum of FOKANA paid tribute Dr. Kalam
as an extra-ordinary human being whose legacy will continue to motivate the
youth of India in the years to come.
Mr. K.G. Janardhanan of Sree
Narayana Association stated that Dr. Kalam shined like a Sun and he will
be sorely missed while Father John Thomas, Diocesan Secretary of Orthodox
Churches in North America paid tribute to Dr.
Kalam as a noble soul who has set an example for everyone with his
principled life. Mr. John Joseph, President of Tamil Chapter of INOC praised
his life for using the Presidency of India as a bully pulpit to create an
enormous impact on so many lives, especially the young ones.
The audience expressed heartfelt condolences and left with a
great sense of pride and honor to have had him as the former President of India.