Indian Institute of Management in Shillong on July 27 organized an online programme to mark the fifth death anniversary of former president, APJ Abdul Kalam, who passed away at the institute’s premises while addressing the students in 2015.

Kalam was closely associated with the institute as a guest faculty.

Senior faculty members of the institute, Keya Sengupta, Sanjoy Mukherjee and Basav Roychoudhury recalled Kalam’s 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, 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 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,” an IIM statement said.

Alumni of IIM Shillong who were fortunate to have been taught by Kalam remembered how the former president charted out the link between creative leadership and 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 APJ Abdul Kalam at IIM Shillong in 2015.

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