Shillong, Jul 27: Eleven years after former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam collapsed while delivering a lecture here, IIM Shillong on Monday unveiled an eight-foot life-size bronze statue of the “People’s President” on the campus where he passed away in 2015.
The statue was unveiled by Board of Governors Chairman Shishir Kumar Bajoria in the presence of board members, Director Prof. (Dr.) Arun Mohan Sherry, faculty, staff and students.
For the institute, the installation marks a shift “from memory to legacy.” Officials said the statue transforms the campus — forever linked to his passing — into a symbol of Kalam’s ideals of ethical leadership, innovation and environmental consciousness.
To students, he was “Kalam Sir,” the mentor who believed the nation’s future was shaped in classrooms. Dr. Kalam died on July 27, 2015 while addressing students at IIM Shillong.
Reaffirming its commitment, the institute said his principles of collective responsibility, integrity and innovation continue to guide IIM Shillong in nurturing leaders for a more liveable world.
Members of the IIM fraternity later paid floral tributes at the statue. The institute also holds the annual Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Memorial Lecture to honour his association with Shillong.
“In death, as in life, Dr. Kalam remained a teacher,” the institute said. “And on the campus where he spent his final moments doing what he loved most, his legacy continues to inspire every new generation.”
