Akhilesh Yadav pays tribute to APJ Abdul Kalam on death anniversary
Synopsis
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on 27 July paid homage to former President and 'Bharat Ratna' scientist Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on his death anniversary, reflecting the cross-partisan reverence Kalam commands across India's political spectrum.
Key Takeaways
Akhilesh Yadav posted a tribute to Dr.
Abdul Kalam on 27 July 2026 , the anniversary of Kalam's passing in 2015 .
Kalam served as India's 11th President from 2002 to 2007 and was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1997 .
He was a pioneering aerospace scientist, known as the 'Missile Man of India,' and was central to the SLV-III and Pokhran-II programmes.
Annual tributes on 27 July are observed by political leaders across party lines, reflecting Kalam's apolitical and cross-partisan legacy.
Memorial events and science education programmes are typically held across India, including in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu and New Delhi , on this date.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday, 27 July paid homage to former President and aerospace scientist Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on his death anniversary, describing him as a great scientist and 'Bharat Ratna' awardee in a post on X.
In his tribute, Yadav wrote 'भारत के पूर्व राष्ट्रपति, महान वैज्ञानिक 'भारत रत्न' डॉ. ए. पी.जे.अब्दुल कलाम जी की पुण्यतिथि पर विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि' — translated as: 'Humble tribute on the death anniversary of former President of India, great scientist and Bharat Ratna, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.'
Context
Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, born on 15 October 1931 in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, served as India's 11th President from 2002 to 2007. He passed away on 27 July 2015 in Shillong, Meghalaya, while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong. Every year on this date, political leaders, scientists, educators, and citizens across the country observe his death anniversary.
Kalam was awarded the Bharat Ratna — India's highest civilian honour — in 1997, recognising his decades of contribution to the nation's defence and space research programmes. His cross-partisan appeal has made annual tributes on 27 July a near-universal practice among Indian political figures, cutting across ideological lines.
Policy Backdrop
Kalam played a central role in India's missile development programme, earning him the popular title 'Missile Man of India.' He was the project director of India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) and a key figure in the Pokhran-II nuclear tests of 1998. His election as President in 2002 followed a nomination by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, yet he retained broad respect across party lines throughout his tenure and after.
Beyond science, Kalam became a symbol of science education and youth inspiration, authoring widely read books and engaging with students across the country. His vision of a developed India by 2020, articulated in his writings, continues to be referenced in policy and educational discourse.
Stakeholders and Impact
Kalam's legacy resonates most strongly with India's scientific community and the country's youth, whom he consistently addressed as the drivers of national progress. Institutions including the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), where he made foundational contributions, mark the anniversary with remembrance events.
Educational institutions and state governments often organise science fairs, lectures, and memorial programmes on 27 July each year. Akhilesh Yadav's tribute, issued from his official X account, reflects the broad consensus across India's political spectrum that Kalam's contributions transcend partisan boundaries.
What's Next
State-level memorial events and academic commemorations are typically held across Uttar Pradesh and other states on Kalam's death anniversary. References to Kalam-inspired science education initiatives are also periodically raised in parliamentary sessions and state assemblies. His memorials in Rameswaram and at Rajaji Marg, New Delhi — where he resided as President — draw visitors on this date each year.
Point of View
Issuing such tributes signals an alignment with aspirational, science-and-youth-centred values that Kalam embodied. The gesture also reflects how Indian political communication increasingly uses anniversaries of non-partisan icons to project statesmanlike credibility. Kalam's enduring cross-partisan appeal remains a useful touchstone for leaders seeking to speak beyond their core constituencies.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When did APJ Abdul Kalam pass away?
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam passed away on 27 July 2015 in Shillong, Meghalaya , while addressing students at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong.
Why did Akhilesh Yadav pay tribute to APJ Abdul Kalam?
Akhilesh Yadav paid tribute to mark Kalam's death anniversary on 27 July , a date observed annually by political leaders and citizens across India in remembrance of the former President and scientist.
What is APJ Abdul Kalam's connection to the Bharat Ratna?
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was awarded the Bharat Ratna , India's highest civilian honour, in 1997 , recognising his contributions to India's space and defence research programmes.
What was APJ Abdul Kalam's role in Indian science?
Kalam was a leading aerospace scientist who served as project director of India's SLV-III satellite launch vehicle and played a key role in the Pokhran-II nuclear tests of 1998 , earning the title 'Missile Man of India.'
Which party nominated APJ Abdul Kalam as President?
Kalam was nominated for the presidency by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and was elected as India's 11th President in 2002 , serving until 2007 .
