OneIndia Special: Dr Kalam’s family to launch international Foundation on Oct 11

Alappuzha, Oct 5: Dr A P J Abdul Kalam International Foundation (AKIF), spearheaded by the family members of former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam will be launched at a tribute function being organized in Chennai on October 11.

The AKIF primarily aims to inspire millions of youth, who are diehard admirers of Dr Kalam across the globe.
The formal launch of AKIF will be held at the Chinmaya Mission Heritage Centre at Chetpet in the presence of a select-gathering.

The Foundation will have trustee members from Dr Kalam's family only, while some of his friends, aides and associates will be given an ‘advisory role.'

The family, as reported by OneIndia earlier, wants to stay away from the claims and counter-claims being propagated by a few, in the name of Dr Kalam. [Dr Abdul Kalam's family wants no controversies in his name]

A collective decision by the family: Dr Naseema

The decision to launch an official Foundation has come after a series of closed-door meetings conducted by the family members during the last one month.

To be headquartered in Rameswaram, Dr Kalam's niece Dr Naseema Maraikayar will be the founder Chairperson of the Foundation.

"We have been observing all activities being undertaken by various organizations and individuals in the name of Dr Kalam in the last two months. As a family, we took a collective decision to form the Foundation so that we could monitor all activities in a professional manner," Dr Naseema told OneIndia on Monday.

She said the Foundation will live up to the dreams of Dr Kalam and will undertake impact-oriented work, rather than organizing publicity-aimed and self-centric events.

"As a scientist, Dr Kalam started his missions from a very small rocket and he moved ahead step by step. We too want to have small beginnings and do justice to whatever we do. The full-fledged charter of the Foundation will be made public in due course of time," Dr Naseema, who was the close confident of former President said.

OneIndia had earlier reported about the launching of ‘Abdul Kalam's Vision India Movement,' by some of the aides of former President in Rameswaram on September 4.

Though some of his family members were also present during the media conference conducted soon after the 40th day death ceremony of Dr Kalam, it is now understood that they will all rally around the new movement.

AKIF will be pan-India in nature: Sheik Saleem

Sheik Saleem, Dr Kalam's grand nephew, who recently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, told OneIndia that the AKIF will be truly pan-India in nature.

"Dr Kalam took no credit for any of his deeds and worked tirelessly and selflessly for the development of the country. Dr Kalam's elder brother A P J M Maraikayar will be the founder Chairman of the Foundation," Saleem said.

In addition to Saleem, the Foundation will have members including A P J M Jainullabudeen, G K Moinudeen, A P J M J Sheik Dawood and A P J M J S Nagoor Roja.

OneIndia News

(The writer is a seasoned aerospace and defence journalist in India. He is the Consultant Editor (Defence) with OneIndia and tweets @writetake.)