Five Months On, Construction To Begin on Kalam’s Memorial

Kalam’s family raised concerns after dogs and cats started littering the grave.

The grave of APJ Abdul Kalam in Tamil Nadu. (Photo: Facebook)

After lying neglected for five months, former President APJ Abdul Kalam’s grave will finally be turned into a memorial. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which Kalam once headed, will pay for the construction of a memorial at the Pei Karumbu burial ground near Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, reports NDTV.

In October, the central government formed a committe, headed by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, to oversee the construction of a memorial at the gravesite. However, constant bickering between the state and central governments over the allotment of land delayed the construction.

The Indian Express had reported about Central Public Works Department officials visting Rameshwaram to inspect the site after Kalam’s family had expressed disappointment over the maintenance of the grave and pictures of dogs loitering around the site started doing the rounds on social media.

<p>The place is not even being maintained properly with plastic and paper strewn all over the spot. We just hope that the government builds the memorial as soon as possible.</p>

<p>Salim, the grandson of APJ Abdul Kalam’s elder brother</p>

DRDO officials have said that a boundary wall will be constructed “to maintain the sanctity of the spot”

While the Tamil Nadu government has allotted 1.5 acres of land to construct a memorial for Kalam on the burial site, the Naidu committee asked for 2 acres of land.

At present, a make-shift shelter has been set up around Kalam’s kabr, which is protected by the local police. Some days ago, a senior aerospace and defence journalist, Anantha Krishnan, had started a Facebook campaign called Justice4GuruKalam, seeking “a befitting memorial built at ‪#‎GuruKalam’s resting place”.

As of now a temporary barricade is keeping the animals away. (Photo: ANI)

Krishnan wonders what exactly is causing the delay in the construction of even a basic structure over Kalam’s kabr.

<p> We are hoping that the issue gets some attention and the government works on it. We need to respect our dead.</p>

Rameshwaram, Kalam’s hometown, attracts tourists because of its temples and now, the grave of the People’s President has also become a major point of visit.