Getting honoured, felicitated or awarded is not new to former President APJ Abdul Kalam. The scientist has been conferred honours by national and international organisations for his work in sciences. As a president, Kalam was highly supportive of children’s education and science development.

Kalam was recently awarded the King Charles II Medal by the London-based Royal Society. Kalam was chosen for his untiring work in India towards the practice and promotion of science in the country.

The international award instituted in 1997 carries a citation and cash purse was given away to APJ Abdul Kalam in London by the president of The Royal Society, Lord Martin Rees. Several big time businessmen, writers, economists etc of Indian origin were present at the gala function. Notable among the guests were industrialist Lord Swaraj Paul, Brewery king, Lord Karan Billimoria, Asoke Mukherjee, acting high commissioner of India to UK and econoist Lord Meghnad Desai.

Another unique achievement of Kalam by getting this award is that he is only the second leader in the world to receive it. The other being Japan’s Emperor Akihito in 1998.

Speaking on the occasion former president APJ Abdul Kalam, said.

I think the Royal Society for chossing me for this unique award. This is a unique honour to India and its people. I would like to state that the Royal Society’s 1,400 fellows and foreign members have immensely contributed to the development of science in the world, which has played in development of the modern world.

Elucidating on his present areas of interest, Kalam said he was presently working on two areas that have a mission potential to have a positive effect on the overall societal development. They are Energy independence and World Knowledge Platform.

Handing ove the silver-gilt Medal, Lord Rees said:

APJ Abdul Kalam is the ideal recipient of this award. We are aware of his great contributions to the Defence Programme of India as Scientific Advisor to the Government and his Technology Vision 2020. He is tireless in promoting Science and Technology as India emerges as a super power in the 21st century.

Here is a hoping that APJ Abdul Kalam continues to inspire and invigorate science eduation, scientists and science in India.