The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh has said that Dr. Kalam always stimulated young minds with new ideas and groomed young scientists with a passion. Addressing a function to mark the "World Students' Day" on the eve of 84th birth anniversary of former President, Late Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Dr Jitendra Singh said the best tribute to his memory would therefore be to discover, encourage and promote young scientific minds who have an inherent aptitude to carry forward the rich scientific tradition laid down by Dr. Kalam and his contemporaries.
Recalling his personal association with the Late President, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, it is a lesser known fact that in the last few years of his life, Dr. Kalam had deviated into research in medical science, even though formally he had never been a student of medical science. This only reflected his constant curiosity to keep on venturing into new vistas of work, he added. Dr. Jitendra Singh recalled that Dr. Kalam had started working on carcinogens or cancer causing agents and if he had lived a little longer, he could have been a distinguished faculty in one of the medical conferences. Dr Jitendra Singh said, what is most gratifying is that Dr. Kalam died doing the kind of work that he loved the most. When he breathed his last, he was lecturing the students and suddenly stopped. What made him great was not only his calibre as a scientist but also his simplicity, humility and flare to share dreams with children, he added.
The function was organized by Forum for Awareness of National Security (FANS) and attended by children from some of the leading schools of Delhi who also presented a song and dance show eulogizing the diverse and great quality of Dr. A.P.J. Kalam.