Britain to honour President Kalam

The president is chosen for the King Charles II Medal.

Updated on: Jul 12, 2007 10:40 AM IST

Share via

Copy link

President APJ Abdul Kalam has been chosen for the prestigious British award -- King Charles II Medal -- in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to scientific advances in India.

Kalam is only the second head of State after Japanese Emperor Akihito to be honoured with the award given by the Royal Society.

"President Kalam has led India at a time when science and technology investment in the country has radically increased," said Martin Rees, President of the Royal Society.

"He (Kalam) has played a major part in preparing a road map for transforming India from developing status into a developed nation," Rees said, adding "as a scientist himself he (Kalam) has also made a great contribution to scientific advances in his country." A ceremony to present the medal was to slated to be held in Delhi and London on Friday but it has been postponed due to the death of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar.

A fresh date will be decided for the ceremony that will now take place after the Presidential election on July 19, the society said.

Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia, and get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.