Article Posted on : - Oct 14, 2015

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Republic Day, 2015. Photo: PTI.

NEW DELHI (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the birth anniversary celebrations of former President APJ Abdul Kalam on Thursday, during which he will unveil his statue and inaugurate a photo exhibition on the departed leader.

"Glad to join Dr. Kalam's birth anniversary celebrations, which includes unveiling of his statue & photo exhibition," Modi tweeted on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister will attend the celebrations at DRDO Bhavan here, a PMO statement said.

As part of the event, Modi will unveil a statue of Kalam.

He will open and witness a photo exhibition titled 'A Celebration of Dr. Kalam's Life', the statement said.

He will also make an address on the occasion.

Bharat Ratna awardee Kalam, who passed away on July 27, was the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007.

Before becoming the President, Kalam had spent four decades as a scientist and science administrator, mainly at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

He was involved in India's civilian space programme and military missile development efforts, earning him the title of 'Missile man'.