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President Kalam turns 73
by Narendra

      Hyderabad: President Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam celebrated his 74th birthday on Saturday here by attending several public functions to mark World Sight Day. Kalam, who arrived here on Friday night, is not celebrating his birthday formally in view of the devastation caused by Saturday's earthquake and will attend the concluding ceremony of a blindness control programme at the L V Prasad Eye Institute. He will also deliver the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel memorial lecture at the National Police Academy before leaving for Maharashtra later on the day. On Friday, Kalam was received by the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Sushilkumar Shinde, the state's Chief Minister, Dr Y S Rajashekara Reddy, Assembly Speaker K R Suresh Reddy and state government ministers and officials at the Begumpet Airport. Kalam was born in 1931 at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu. He became the 11th President of India on July 25, 2002. He is one of the most distinguished scientists of India with the honour of receiving honorary doctorates from 30 universities and institutions. He has been awarded the Padma Bhushan (1981), Padma Vibhushan (1990) and the Bharat Ratna (1997). During his Maharashtra visit on Sunday, the President is likely to interact with local farmers through a teleconference in Ahmednagar district. Besides, he will also interact with physically challenged children during his visit to Pravara Medical Trust at Loni there. Kalam will also visit various rural development programmes at Vaitagwadi village in Nasik district. Police has been making stringent security arrangements for the event.