Directorate of Information & Publicity 
DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY
GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI
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- Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal inaugurates Kalam Memorial at Dilli Haat, INA
- CM Arvind Kejriwal dedicates Kalam Memorial to memory, achievements and contributions of former President Bharat Ratna Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
- Kalam Memorial fulfills promise made by Delhi Government to restore Dr. Kalam’s life, times, belongings, books and memories in Delhi
- Deputy CM Manish Sisodia vows live by Dr. Kalam’s ideals and educate, empower and enlighten each and every child
- Art and Culture Minister Kapil Mishra hails this as the permanent return of Dr. Kalam to New Delhi
Dated:30/7/2016
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Art &Culture Minister Kapil Mishra inaugurated the Kalam Memorial at the Dilli Haat INA today. The Memorial has been built to honor the late President and eminent scientist. It contains his personal belongings including books and his treasured artifacts.
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was known as the people's President and was universally loved and revered. He had dedicated over four decades of his life to our country’s esteemed Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), while also playing a pivotal role in making India a nuclear power.
His sudden death on July 27, 2015 shocked the whole country. Soon after he passed away, there was a growing demand to convert his Delhi home into a memorial and knowledge center. His supporters strongly believed that Dr. Kalam's books and belongings would be most useful for students, academics and his followers, if they were well preserved in Delhi. Despite repeated requests from family members and various other sections of the society including a 30,000+ Change.org petition to build a Kalam memorial in Delhi, the Central Government evacuated Dr. Kalam’s house.
However, the Delhi Government responded proactively to the concerns of the citizens and decided to build a memorial to pay tribute to our beloved former President and an exceptional Indian.
At the inauguration of the Kalam Memorial, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said, “This Memorial will ensure that our citizens have a place to observe Dr. Kalam’s life, times and memories. From Rameshwaram to Rashtrapati Bhavan to People’s Hearts, we dedicate this memorial to Dr. Kalam and every child of India.”
He added, “There are very few people who are able to change the times in which they live in. And Dr. Kalam was one of them. This memorial constructed in his honor will remind us of his inspiring story and also be a source of inspiration for generations to come that should live by his ideals. We thank his family and friends who have generously donated his personal artifacts and belongings to this memorial, and have shared their time with us today. He was truly the President of the Aam Aadmi (common man) and we will ensure that we live by his ideals.”
Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said, “The Delhi Government resolves to bring Dr. Kalam’s teachings and advice to life by ensuring that every child gets proper education that enables them to choose the path to true enlightenment. We met him at the Delhi Secretariat where he gave us inspiration and guidance on revolutionizing the education system in Delhi. We had wished that he address our schoolteachers and principals but fate had decided otherwise. However, I resolve to ensure that we walk on the path that he has shown us. The Delhi Government will ensure that we educate, empower and enlighten each child of India.”
At the inauguration, Art and Culture Kapil Mishra said, “Today Kalam Sir is coming back to Delhi, and this time it is forever. We are proud to carry forward his legacy in Delhi. I thank Dr. Kalam’s family, friends, relatives, admirers and the youth of this country, who have ensured that this memorial is a possibility today. Kalam sir has shown the world that even a small boy from a quaint town in Tamil Nadu can become one of the greatest scientists and leaders of the world. For me, he is all his achievements and more. But first, he is a teacher. This memorial is just a physical resting place of his memories and belongings. It is more important for us to understand and fulfill his vision for India.”
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