Dubbed as India’s Missile Man, India’s 11th President was much beloved for his compassion and commitment to education. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam wanted to be remembered as a teacher. Hence, it was befitting that a homage service was held at the GIIS Queenstown Campus to pay tribute the towering personality. Students, teachers, religious leaders, the High Commissioner of India in Singapore, and members of the Indian Community gathered to pay their respects to the departed leader.

On all fronts, the late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was a visionary. For his contributions to aerospace and defense, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna - the country’s highest civilian honour given for exceptional performance and service. During his term from 2002 to 2007, he was affectionately known as the People’s President. APJ Abdul Kalam then involved himself in educational institutions and launched a youth programme to tackle corruption.

A memorial service was held by the Global Schools Foundation (GSF) and the Global Indian Foundation (GIF) in remembrance of the great leader. Through prayers, speeches and recitals, participants of a memorial service at the Global Indian International School (GIIS) on the evening of August 18 paid a fitting tribute.

It was supported by GIIS, the Singapore Indian Association and all Tamil associations from Singapore.

GIIS students and teachers, religious leaders, academics, and members of the local community offered flowers to a portrait of Late Dr Kalam before entering the school’s auditorium. The mood was sombre. Speakers reminded the crowd not to clap after each tribute, a mark of mourning. One of Dr Kalam’s pieces of advice to the GIIS, “If you want to achieve what you desire, then you should identify the inner potential that is unique in you,” took centre stage.

GIIS students presented the @aps@Sarva Dharma Prayer@aps@ or multi-faith prayer

The event began with prayers for the late Dr Kalam, who was a staunch and practicing Muslim. Ustad Sheik Ali from the Thopputhurai Muslim Association led an Islamic Prayer, while GIIS students recited the Sarva Dharma Prayer. This was followed by a minute of silence.

Dr Kalam passed away on July 27 this year, after suffering from a sudden cardiac arrest while delivering a lecture in Shillong (India). He was 83. But in a series of tributes that evening, India’s 11th President was most cherished for his care for the poor and children’s education across the world.

Mr Atul Temurnikar (Chairman and Co-Founder, Global Schools Foundation) addressing the audience

Chairman and Co-Founder of GSF, Mr Atul Temurnikar, recalled meeting Dr Kalam during his state visit to Singapore in 2006. Instead of discussing the next day’s itinerary, the leader raised concerns about how organisations in Singapore were helping students from different backgrounds perform to the best of their abilities.

Inspired by Dr Kalam’s thoughts, GIF and GSF started several educational initiatives, he said. GSF introduced Dr APJ Abdul Kalam scholarships, and GIF funded a donation of $1 million to the Singapore Indian Development Association - used to develop a customised curriculum for underperforming students. “If we could look at teachers across the planet, across the universe, he would easily come across as one of the finest and most passionate teachers,” adds Mr Temurnikar.

Ambassador K Kesavapany, the President of the Singapore Indian Association, drew similarities between the values Dr Kalam and Singapore held close. These were the values of meritocracy, inclusivity, and human capital development. In particular, Ambassador Kesavapany stressed the leader’s belief in education for all. “Dr Kalam saw in young minds the future of India, and the future of the world,” he said.

HE Vijay Thakur Singh, High Commissioner of India in Singapore addressing the audience

HE Vijay Thakur Singh, High Commissioner of India in Singapore who took out time from her busy schedule paid a heartfelt homage. She said that the late President incessantly fought for what he believed in, including a more developed India by 2020. “He would constantly be motivating the youth. He constantly spoke about taking the country forward. His contribution to India as president, as a scientist, as an educationalist, and as a writer are tremendous,” she said. “In his passing, the world and India has lost a charming personality,” she adds.

“Dr Kalam had a special love for children, so this condolence meeting which we are having in school is indeed the right place,” she adds further, ending her tribute with a recital of “Indomitable Spirit,” one of Dr Kalam’s poems.

Perhaps the most poignant moment of the night was when Mr Rajkumar Chandra brought up the leader’s humble background and addressed young people in the audience. Born to a Tamil Muslim family in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, Dr Kalam’s father was a boat owner and a worship leader at a local mosque. His mother was a housewife. After the family’s ferry business collapsed, Dr Kalam, who was the youngest of five siblings, sold newspapers to help his family make do.

“For the students here, please remember that it does not matter who your parents are, or what race or religion you belong to,” Mr Chandra, the President of the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association said. “What matters is sheer hard work, determination, this can take you to great heights,” he adds.

GIIS students presented a special song and veena performance as a tribute to Late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

The memorial service ended with a special song and veena performance by GIIS students. In his life, Dr Kalam liked to play the veena, a plucked string instrument from ancient India, and practised regularly.

“He has been a source of inspiration to thousands of children like me,” Smit Wargantiwar, an IB year 1 student at GIIS said. “All of us don’t have equal talents, but all of us have equal opportunities to expand on those talents,” he adds.

GIIS teacher Ms Rashida Pagadiwala expressed that Dr Kalam was a towering intellectual who urged the students to “believe you can, and you will!” She urged the students to keep in mind his teachings that no dream is difficult to achieve with hard work.