Ghatkopar school merges with SIES, to be renamed after late President Kalam

A prominent school in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area will be renamed after the late President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on the occasion of his 87th birth anniversary on October 15.

The school, run by the North Mumbai Welfare Society (NMWS), recently merged with the South Indian Education Society (SIES), Matunga and will henceforth be known as “SIES Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial High School”, a trustee of SIES told IANS.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will do the honours at the renaming ceremony. A life-size statue of Kalam will also be installed in the school premises on October 15.

Kalam, a renowned scientist, was the President of India between 2002-2007. He was conferred the country’s highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna in 1997. He passed away after a cardiac arrest in Shillong, Meghalaya, on July 27, 2015.

Among the oldest educational institutions in Mumbai, the SIES has several schools and colleges with a student strength of around 25,000. The newly-merged NMWS, Ghatkopar, has been in the education sector since 55 years with a student strength of 3,250.

“In his honour and memory, and in acknowledgement of the significant contributions he had made to ignite young minds, we have decided to rename the newly-acquired NMWS after him,” said SIES President V. Shankar.

In the past, satellite stations, roads, educational programmes, a bacteria (Solibacillus Kalami by NASA) and others have been named in his honour.

However, according to Shankar, this is probably the first educational institution to name a school after Kalam.

Interestingly, Kalam was the Principal Patron of SIES which he visited on several occasions and was also honoured with the “SIES Life Time Achievements Award” and “Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati National Eminence Award”.

With IANS inputs