Former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam laid to rest

The mortal remains of former president APJ Abdul Kalam, who died on Monday, were taken from his ancestral house in Rameswaram to the local mosque ahead of the funeral as thousands of mourners -- young and old --poured into the island town to pay their last respects. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and a host of other dignitaries, including chief ministers of some states, took part in the last rites after 'Namaz-e-Janaza'. The body of 83-year-old Kalam, who passed away in Shillong, was taken from the house around 9.30am to the mosque by the personnel of three services with the casket covered with traditional green shawl. The Missile Man's death witnessed a huge outpouring of grief across the nation. In Delhi, thousands waited in the sultry heat for hours to pay their last respects to him. Serpentine queues were also witnessed in Rameswaram, where his body was brought on Wednesday. The government has declared a national mourning for seven days in his honour. [caption id="attachment_80305" align="alignnone" width="450"] In this handout photograph released by the Indian Press Information Bureau (PIB) on July 30, 2015, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) pays homage at the body of India's former president A. P. J. Kalam in Rameswaram. India's former president and top scientist A. P. J. Kalam, who played a lead role in the country's nuclear weapons tests, died on July 27, a hospital official said. He was 83.
AFP PHOTO/PIB -----EDITORS NOTE---- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO /PIB" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - NO ARCHIVES[/caption] [caption id="attachment_80300" align="alignnone" width="450"] Indian service personnel carry a casket containing the body of former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam as it arrives in Rameswaram on July 29, 2015, ahead of his funeral ceremony in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. India's former president and top scientist A. P. J. Kalam, who played a lead role in the country's nuclear weapons tests, died in the north-eastern Indian city of Shillong on July 27. He was 83. AFP PHOTO/STR[/caption] [caption id="attachment_80301" align="alignnone" width="500"] Mourners and officials gather around a casket containing the body of former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam after its arrival in Rameswaram on July 29, 2015, ahead of his funeral ceremony in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. India's former president and top scientist A. P. J. Kalam, who played a lead role in the country's nuclear weapons tests, died in the north-eastern Indian city of Shillong on July 27. He was 83. AFP PHOTO/STR[/caption] [caption id="attachment_80302" align="alignnone" width="450"] Teachers and schoolchildren hold a portrait of the former Indian President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam during a prayer ceremony in Agartala, India, July 29, 2015. Kalam, considered the father of the country's missile programme, died on Monday in hospital at the age of 83, a doctor said. Popularly known as "Missile Man," Kalam led the scientific team that developed missiles able to carry India's nuclear warheads. He became a national folk hero after helping oversee nuclear tests in 1998 that solidified India's status as a nuclear weapons state. REUTERS/Jayanta Dey[/caption] [caption id="attachment_80303" align="alignnone" width="450"] Soldiers escort a gun carriage carrying the body of former Indian President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, wrapped with the national flag, outside Kalam's residence in New Delhi, India, July 29, 2015. Kalam, considered the father of the country's missile programme, died on Monday in hospital at the age of 83, a doctor said. Popularly known as "Missile Man," Kalam led the scientific team that developed missiles able to carry India's nuclear warheads. He became a national folk hero after helping oversee nuclear tests in 1998 that solidified India's status as a nuclear weapons state. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY[/caption] [caption id="attachment_80304" align="alignnone" width="450"] In this photograph received from the Presidential Palace on July 28, 2015, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee pays his last respects at the body of former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam at Palam Airforce Station in New Delhi on July 28, 2915, after its arrival from Guwahati. India's former president and top scientist A. P. J. Kalam, who played a lead role in the country's nuclear weapons tests, died July 28, a hospital official said. He was 83. Kalam collapsed during a lecture at a management institute in the northeastern Indian city of Shillong, and was declared dead on arrival by doctors at Bethany hospital. AFP PHOTO / PRESIDENTIAL PALACE ----EDITORS NOTE---- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT - "AFP PHOTO / PRESIDENTIAL PALACE" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----[/caption]