GUWAHATI, July 27 - Assam joined the rest of the country in observing the first death anniversary of former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam today. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal led the State in paying rich tributes to Bharat Ratna Dr Kalam.
Paying floral tributes to Dr Kalam at a function held at the Gauhati University today, Sonowal termed Dr Kalam as a towering personality, a great humanist who was largely responsible for the development of space technology in the country. Referring to a quote of Dr Kalam, �If you want to shine like a sun; first burn like a sun�, Sonowal said, �This is very much relevant in today�s world where nothing great can be achieved without hard work.�
Sonowal also said that Dr Kalam�s emphasis on hard work is also important for the concept of �Team Assam� to materialise and reap dividends from it. He also said, �I am happy to be able to pay tribute to a great personality like Dr Kalam, the �Missile Man� of the country who, by his ingenuity, ignited many minds and led the country in scaling new heights in space science.� He said, �We need to emulate his vision� in order to build a society of Dr Kalam�s dream.
As the programme was started with the Gauhati University anthem composed by Dr Bhupen Hazarika, Sonowal asked the university authority to revitalise the Dr Bhupen Hazarika Research Unit in the university and assured of all his help and support. He also urged the Gauhati University fraternity to put in rigorous work in its march towards academic excellence as the university is the �face of Assam�.
GU Vice Chancellor Dr Mridul Hazarika; Registrar Dr SK Nath; Rector Hariprasad Sharma and president of Assam Principal Council Dr Balendra Kumar Das also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier in another programme held at the Central Hall of the Assam Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Sonowal, along with Assembly Speaker Ranjit Kumar Dass, Deputy Speaker Dilip Kumar Paul, Ministers Atul Bora, Pramila Rani Brahma, Parimal Suklabaidya, Ranjit Dutta, Chandra Mohan Patowary, Naba Kumar Doley and Pallab Lochan Das, offered rich tributes to Dr Kalam. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Debabrata Saikia and Members of the Legislative Assembly, cutting across party lines, also paid homage to Dr Kalam.
Meanwhile, the first death anniversary of Dr Kalam was observed by the Kamrup Metro district administration at the District Library here today.
Dr M Angamuthu, Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup Metro, delivered the welcome address of the event, which was attended by Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, DGP Mukesh Sahay, GMC Mayor Mrigen Sarania, City Police Commissioner Mukesh Agarwala and noted freedom fighter and social activist Hema Bharali, among others.
Hrishikesh Goswami, secretary of Children Education Trust, Guwahati, was the guest of honour and addressed the gathering.
Over 1,000 students, academicians, senior citizens and members of civil society also attended the programme.
