India wants APJ Abdul Kalam on currency notes

Two days after ‘People’s President’ APJ Abdul Kalam was laid to rest with full state honours, the social media is a buzz with pictures of the ‘Missile man’ on currency notes.
The pictures of Dr Kalam on the currency of India have been going viral on the internet.

At present ‘Father of the nation’ Mahatma Gandhi’s photo is on the currency notes.

The “People’s President” was accorded full military honours, including gun salute and playing of the Last Post as the members of his family and local Jamath lowered his mortal remains into a trench as slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” rent the air.

The funeral of the “Missile Man” was attended by a galaxy of leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who placed a wreath, offered his final salute and stood in silence in front of Kalam’s body that was draped in national flag. He also went around the casket with folded hands.

The former president died on July 27 after he suffered a massive cardiac arrest and collapsed during a lecture at the IIM Shillong.

An avid backer of nuclear technology, the visionary Kalam was an integral part of the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests undertaken by the A B Vajpayee-led NDA Government.

The veteran scientist also backed the controversial Indo-Russian joint venture Koodankulam Nuclear power project in the state, which was strongly opposed by the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE).

Having risen through the ranks of the Indian scientific community, Kalam inspired many of his fellow citizens, especially youngsters, urging them to have a dream, for the progress of themselves and the country.

This instantly struck a chord with youngsters and students, with aspiring engineers, doctors and scientists looking upon him as a living example worth emulating.

The former president has been ‘trending’ on the online fora, with thousands of Twitterati and Facebook users heaping encomiums on him.