FILE: Former president APJ Abdul Kalam with school students (Agence France-Presse photo)
Paying rich tributes to former President A P J Abdul Kalam, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today named the Kisanganj Agriculture college after him.
"The Agriculture college will now be known as 'Dr Kalam Agriculture College Kisanganj'," Mr Kumar said in a statement here before leaving for Delhi to pay tributes to the former President.
Dr Kalam died at Bethany Hospital in Shillong, Meghalaya last night after he collapsed during a lecture at the IIM.
Mr Kumar was scheduled to inaugurate the first phase of newly constructed building of Kisanganj Agriculture college today, which he cancelled following the death of Kalam.
"This will be the most befitting way to pay respect to the departed President that the Kisanganj Agriculture college be known by his name," the chief minister said.
Mr Kumar said Dr Kalam was not only President of the country, but was a great scientist who had a vision for development of the nation.
Stating that he was very popular among youths, Mr Kumar said "he was truly a Bharat Ratna."
Recalling how Dr Kalam visited Bihar in the capacity of President in 2006 and addressed the joint session of the state Legislature, he said "I still remember Kalam had given 10-point suggestion for the development of Bihar."
"It was Kalam who suggested revival of the Nalanda University following which we worked on it and the International University has come up.
"After completing Presidential tenure, on my request he had visited Nalanda and worked in the Nalanda International University.
"Despite law made by the state as well central governments, Kalam turned down a proposal to work as 'Visitor' of the Nalanda University saying incumbent President should grace the position. He ,however, gave an assurance that whenever his service was required in the University he would come," Mr Kumar said, adding, he was a "popular President."
Earlier in the morning, oath ceremony of newly elected members of the state Legislative Council from local bodies was cancelled by Chairman Awdesh Narayan Singh.