CM Samrat Choudhary pays tribute to APJ Abdul Kalam on death anniversary
Synopsis
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary marked Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam's death anniversary on 27 July with a tribute honouring the former President's scientific legacy, national service, and enduring inspiration for India's youth.
Key Takeaways
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary posted a tribute to Dr.
APJ Abdul Kalam on his death anniversary, 27 July .
Kalam served as India's 11th President from 2002 to 2007 and died on 27 July 2015 at IIM Shillong .
He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1997 for contributions to scientific research and national security.
Kalam is credited with pioneering India's missile programme at DRDO and ISRO , earning the title 'Missile Man of India.' The tribute highlights Bihar government's alignment with national narratives on science, youth empowerment, and self-reliance.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Monday, 27 July paid homage to former President and Bharat Ratna awardee Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on his death anniversary, honouring the scientist-statesman's enduring legacy of national service and youth inspiration.
In his post, CM Choudhary wrote: 'Bharat ke poorv Rashtrapati, Bharat Ratna evam Missile Man Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam ji ki punyatithi par unhe shat-shat naman' — offering a hundredfold salute to the former President on his death anniversary. He added that Kalam's 'inspiring life, service to the nation, and thoughts for the youth will always provide the people of this country with new energy and direction.'
Context
Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, India's 11th President (2002–2007), passed away on 27 July 2015 while delivering a lecture to students at the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong. Since then, 27 July is observed annually as his death anniversary across the country. Political leaders, educators, and citizens mark the day with tributes that invoke his twin legacies as a scientist and a people's president.
Policy Backdrop
Dr. Kalam was awarded the Bharat Ratna — India's highest civilian honour — in 1997, recognising his foundational contributions to scientific research and national security. As a senior scientist at DRDO and ISRO, he played a pivotal role in developing India's indigenous missile programme, earning him the sobriquet 'Missile Man of India.' His presidency was equally distinguished by his outreach to students and his vision of a developed India by 2020, articulated in his book India 2020.
Indian political leaders across the spectrum routinely issue public tributes on this anniversary, invoking Kalam's emphasis on scientific temper, education, and youth-driven national development. Such commemorations align with a broader political narrative of celebrating scientist-statesmen to reinforce themes of self-reliance and innovation.
Stakeholders and Impact
The tribute is directed most immediately at India's youth, the constituency Dr. Kalam most passionately addressed throughout his life. Schools and colleges across Bihar and the rest of the country use the anniversary as an occasion for motivational programmes, essay competitions, and readings of Kalam's works. For CM Choudhary, the post also signals the BJP-led Bihar government's alignment with the national discourse on science, education, and youth empowerment.
What's Next
State-level commemorative events in Bihar's schools and colleges are expected on the anniversary, continuing a pattern seen in previous years. Observers will watch whether references to Dr. Kalam's vision surface in upcoming education or skill-development policy documents from the Bihar government. His ideas on technology-led national growth remain a touchstone for policymakers framing youth-centric programmes.
Point of View
Where youth employment and education are key concerns. Kalam's legacy functions as rare common ground in an otherwise polarised political discourse, making such tributes strategically low-risk and symbolically high-value. The emphasis on 'new energy and direction' subtly frames the ruling dispensation as the inheritor of Kalam's developmentalist vision.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When did APJ Abdul Kalam die?
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam passed away on 27 July 2015 while delivering a lecture to students at the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong . He was 83 years old at the time of his death.
Why is Samrat Choudhary paying tribute to APJ Abdul Kalam?
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary paid tribute on 27 July , the death anniversary of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam , honouring his legacy as a scientist, former President, and inspiration for India's youth. Indian political leaders across parties routinely mark this day.
What is APJ Abdul Kalam's connection to the Bharat Ratna?
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was awarded the Bharat Ratna — India's highest civilian honour — in 1997 , recognising his pioneering contributions to scientific research and national security, particularly through India's missile and space programmes.
Why is APJ Abdul Kalam called the Missile Man of India?
Dr. Kalam earned the title 'Missile Man of India' for his central role in developing India's indigenous ballistic missile programme at DRDO and his contributions to the space programme at ISRO , which significantly advanced India's defence capabilities.
Who is Samrat Choudhary?
Samrat Choudhary is the Chief Minister of Bihar and a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) . He leads the Bihar state government and is an active voice on national and state-level political matters.
