IIM, Shillong fondly remember Dr Kalam on his death anniv

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 27, 2020

Led by its Director, Prof DP Goyal, IIM Shillong organised an e-gathering on Monday to mark the fifth death anniversary of former President, Late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam who passed away at the Institute’s premises while addressing the students in 2015.

Dr Kalam was closely associated with the Institute as a Guest Faculty.

Senior faculty members of the Institute, Prof Keya Sengupta, Prof Sanjoy Mukherjee and Prof Basav Roychoudhury recalled his down to earth presence, wit and wisdom during engagements with him, particularly, between 2013 to 2015.

Students also fondly remembered him as a teacher with a difference who was genuinely concerned about India’s wellbeing as a country. During one of his visits Dr. Kalam had exhorted the students of IIM Shillong saying, “I want to see all of you as creative leaders to bring about the required change.” He was then on his second visit to teach a course on “Dimensions of National Development.”

During his session with the students Dr Kalam regularly talked about the challenges faced by the country and the world at large, always emphasizing on the role of leadership to tackle these issues and develop possible solutions.

He was particularly fond of his concept of PURA (Providing Urban Amenities to Rural Areas) which focuses on rural development by providing opportunities through cooperative working of resource and social entrepreneur.

“This would enable our country to grow by shared efforts and overcome the challenges faced by the society.”

Alumni of IIM Shillong who were fortunate to have been taught by him remembered how Dr Kalam charted out the link between creative leadership & economic development, and his accentuation on the role of integrity among leaders for sustained success and development of the society.

‘Creating a Liveable Planet Earth’ was the last lecture delivered by India’s Missile Man, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam at IIM Shillong in 2015.

The Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Lecture Series was started in 2016 to honour his memory, and the past editions have been graced by Dr Manas K Mandal, Director General – Life Sciences, DRDO, Padma Vibhushan G Madhavan Nair, former Chairman ISRO, Padma Bhushan Prof Bikash Sinha, former director of the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics and Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, and Padma Bhushan Dr K Radhakrishnan, former Chairman ISRO.

Inspired by the teachings and values of Dr Kalam, students of IIM Shillong started Nurturing Minds in 2015.

The objective of the program is to encourage learning and help nurture creativity, amongst socially and economically underprivileged school children of Shillong.