The Indian Institute of Management-Shillong on Thursday announced it would launch a centre for policy research to honour its mentor and former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam."Bharat Ratna APJ Abdul Kalam centre for policy research will be set up in keeping with his objective of societal development," IIM-Shillong director Amitabha De said during a special programme to commemorate Kalam's birth anniversary at the institute's campus.Commemorating Kalam's 84th birth anniversary, the premier B-school organised a seminar on 'Science and Humanism for National Development', in keeping with Kalam's contribution to science and his objective of social development.
He said the institute would also introduce an initiative 'Nurturing Minds' from October 17 to teach mathematics to school students beginning from Class 8."In the initial phase, classes of two-hour duration will be held every Saturday for students nominated by local schools," De said.Recalling Kalam's visits to the IIM-Shillong and his lectures to the students, De said a 2,000-square feet auditorium with a seating capacity of 200 will be set up in the institute in Kalam's name.A bust of the former president would be installed in front of the auditorium, where Kalam died as he was delivering a lecture on 'Creating a Liveable Planet' to second-year students of IIM-Shillong on the campus on July 27. De said a function would be held annually to honour Kalam.On the occasion, IIM-Shillong's students and faculty spray-painted a large canvas to reveal a sketch of Kalam.