Peikarumbu gears up for Kalam’s first anniversary

Thousands from all over the country are expected to arrive at this remote hamlet to pay their respects to him. Several Union Ministers, including Manohar Parrikar (Defence) and Venkaiah Naidu (Urban Development), are expected to visit the site to pay respects for the legend. 

Sources said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would unveil the statue of Kalam from New Delhi through video conferencing facility. Earlier on Monday, a seven-foot bronze statue, weighing around 350 kg, was installed at the memorial site. On Tuesday morning Poovendran, a sand sculptor from Puducherry, created 100 faces of Kalam. 

Similarly, work was also going to carve the face of ‘people’s president’ in fruits and vegetables. It appeared like as if the anniversary had started a day in advance as several batches of students from various schools were thronging the memorial site on Tuesday itself and paying respects to their ‘role model.’

A peace procession was also conducted from his memorial. Kalam’s family members also paid their homage to the missile man and offered ‘Fathia’ for him. In the evening a special prayer session had been scheduled at Kalam’s residence. Elaborate security arrangements have been made at the venue and adequate seating facility to accommodate more than 2000 participants has been made. As an additional attraction, a photo exhibition about the life and achievements of the former president has been set up at Peikarumbu. 

On Wednesday the union ministers would also lay foundation stone for the construction of a library and would also unveil the blueprint of the memorial that would be developed at the site.