New Delhi: Indian industry on Tuesday condoled the demise of former President A P J Abdul Kalam describing him as a "visionary guide and mentor", whose death is an "irreparable loss to the nation".
"APJ Abdul Kalam was a great motivator, a constant inspiration, and a unique mentor for India and Indian industry. His vision for a developed and technologically superior India motivated industry's engagement in leveraging technology for competitiveness," CII President Sumit Mazumder said.
Expressing similar views, PHD Chamber President Alok B Shriram said: "His death is an irreparable loss to the nation as he has left a big void difficult to fill."
As President of India, Kalam was immensely popular and greatly admired by all sections of society, including India Inc with which he consistently shared his economic vision and landscape for the country and thus commanded a great respect from it also, the industry body said.
"His tireless efforts in placing India prominently among the technologically developed nations would be remembered for years to come and he would be missed by people world over," it added.
Mahindra Group Chairman and Managing Director Anand Mahindra, while recollecting an interaction with Kalam during the inauguration of the group's Chennai Research valley, tweeted the former President's "advice (was) to always look higher and beyond your original ideas".
ASSOCHAM President Rana Kapoor said Kalam always made efforts to help India reach "greater heights in the world of innovation, technology and self reliance".
He gave a "new dimension to Rashtrapati Bhawan as he became the people's President with whom every Indian, be it a child, student, farmer, scientist or industrialist could identify himself or herself", Kapoor added.
Engineering exporters body EEPC India credited Kalam for changing attitude to evolve the country from an exporter of low value engineering to hi-tech products.
"It was thanks to inspiration from leaders like him that India today is able to export high technology engineering products which go into manufacture of aero-space, aviation, railways and ship-building," EEPC India Chairman Anupam Shah said.
Describing Kalam as one of the India's finest Presidents, Larsen & Toubro Group Executive Chairman A M Naik said he was a scientist and technocrat who endeared himself to all.
While expressing grief at his death GVK EMRI, of which Kalam was the Chairman Emeritus, said the former President "always encouraged the use of technology in the business of saving lives".
Biocon CMD Kiran Mazumdar Shaw tweeted Kalam was "a rare jewel who was the people's president loved by the young and the old".
Paying homage to the departed leader, All India Management Association (AIMA) President Hemant Nerurkar said: "Dr Kalam was a friend and a guide to India's management fraternity and he was a great management teacher."
He was a visionary and could foresee the transformative influence of technology. Nearly a decade ago, he advised AIMA to create virtual universal classroom at a time when the massive online open courses were yet to become a trend anywhere in the world, AIMA added.
Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar today condoled the death of the former President, terming his demise as loss of a great scientist and educationist for the country.
"Dr Kalam was an extraordinary personality and an ideal citizen, scientist, educationist and President. His important role in Pokhran will never be forgotten. It is an immense loss for the country," Singh told reporters here.
In Bharat Ratna Kalam's death, the country has lost not only a great scientist but also a great personality and a great son of India. He left an indellible mark in the hearts of countrymen as a thinker, writer, leader and as the Missile Man of India, he added.
"He will always remain in our hearts and his life will remain a source of inspiration to the millions of youth in the country. I pray to the Lord Almighty to rest his pious soul in peace," Singh said.
Later in the day, industry body Ficci also condoled Kalam's death and recollected that it was the vision of the former President that the industry body set up its Centre for Innovation, Science and Technology Commercialisation in 2007 to bridge the gap between the mind and the market.
"Our real homage to Dr Kalam would be to ensure that his passion for science and technology and his vision towards building a nation by igniting young minds is carried forward," Ficci president Jyotsna Suri said in a statement.
Apollo Hospitals Group chairman Prathap C Reddy said, "Our nation has lost a great son, an iconic leader who dedicated his life to building the nation and serving the people."
"An eminent scientist who steered the country to new heights of scientific success, his determination to transform India gave our country a new direction towards inclusive growth," Reddy said.
Describing Kalam as "a nation builder par excellence", Reddy said his presence and guidance will be missed immensely in India and beyond.
