Central official visits Kalam’s brother, discusses memorial plan

While Dr Kalam’s mortal remains had been interred at an open ground at Peikarumbu here on July 30 last, locals were piqued that no work had so far been taken up to build a memorial for the youth icon and inspirer by the Central government even five months after his death.

Even a proper fencing of the area had not been done, leading to dogs and other stray animals having a field day near Dr Kalam’s tomb, much to the discomfort of many a tourist visiting Rameswaram who have added Peikarumbu to their travel iterinary.

Hopes for beginning of the construction activities brightened on Christmas Day as the Defence ministry official, Mr Viswajit reached here in a surprise “personal visit”, met with Dr Kalam’s elder brother A P J Muthumeeran Labbai Marickar and other relatives of the late President at their ancestral house here and held preliminary discussions.

Mr Viswajit is learnt to have assured family members of Dr Kalam that a fitting memorial for the late President would be constructed by the GOI, without letting down the people’s expectations on this issue.

He reportedly told them that “construction work at the site will start soon and to begin with a compound wall will to cover the area will be built.” Dr Kalam’s niece Dr Najma Marickar who was also present during the meeting expressed happiness at the latest development of Viswajit visiting them for the purpose.

Nonetheless, Mr Viswajit later made it clear that his was not an official visit. It was purely a personal, informal visit out of his “respect and affection” for the late technology-scientist, like thousands of other ‘Kalam fans’. Viswajit also went through the small museum, which Dr Kalam’s family has set up where the late President’s belongings are displayed.

Yet, he disclosed that preliminary drawings for constructing the Dr Kalam memorial were ready and project estimation has been done by the GOI. The Tamil Nadu government has allotted 1.36 acres of land for the project and “we may need more land for the memorial,” Viswajit said.

“Once, we get the additional needed land from the State government, we will go ahead with the construction of the memorial; meanwhile, we will first build a compound wall,” added the Defence ministry official