Ex-Indian President Kalam to visit several suburbs
A former president of India will make stops in several suburbs, including in Bartlett and at Fermilab in Batavia, in the next week.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who served as India's president from 2002-2007, will speak Sunday morning at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Bartlett as part of the Hindu temple's youth conference.
The Indo-American Center, a Chicago-based nonprofit group that aids South Asian immigrants in their transition to living in America, invited Kalam to the Chicago area. Kalam will speak Sunday night in Oak Brook at a fundraiser for the Indo-American Center.
“He's the ex-president of India; he would have the same status Bill Clinton would have,” said Indo-American Executive Director Jay Luthra.
Kalam thrilled Luthra and his colleagues when he accepted their invitation for their annual event.
“We've never had someone of this magnitude,” Luthra said.
Kalam was known as “the people's president,” for his desire to represent all sects of India.
“Everyone appreciates his interest in science and the environment,” Luthra said.
Luthra said Kalam expressed meeting with children while in the area as one of his goals. He'll have that chance in Bartlett on Sunday. He's expected to share some of his experiences, hoping to inspire future leaders.
And students from various suburbs will hear him speak 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Avery Coonley School in Downers Grove. Inspired by his visit, the village of Hanover Park plans to plant a tree in honor of Kalam to mark Arbor Day on Friday, April 29.
Kalam's speaking engagement on Monday at Fermilab in Batavia will be private.
Kalam is very much a believer in countries collaborating together to tackle problems. He earned the prestigious Hoover Medal in 2009. The honor recognizes engineers who make contributions to humanity. In Kalam's case, he made quality and affordable health care more accessible in India and helped connect rural clinics to more modern medical centers in urban areas.
A rocket scientist, who worked as an aeronautical engineer, the 79-year-old Kalam has helped launch satellites into space and developed missiles, even working on India's nuclear weapons program.
Despite becoming a burgeoning hub for technology, India remains a third-world country with many poor people. That poses a challenge for Kalam, as one of his goals is to transform India into a fully-developed country by 2020.
Kalam, one of India's top scientists, is pushing for the country to use more sustainable means of energy, including solar power.
While the office of the president comes with several responsibilities, including serving as commander in chief, the office of the prime minister is considered the top political office in India, holding the most authority. India, which has a population of about 1.2 billion, is the world's largest democracy.
Tickets may still be available for the fundraiser dinner on Sunday night at the Oak Brook Marriott Hotel, while there's a waiting list for the Coonley School visit. Go to indoamerican.org for details.