Kalam to receive King Charles II medal after July 19 presidential polls

President Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam will be conferred with the King Charles II Medal by the Royal Society, UK after the July 19 presidential polls in view of the week-long period of mourning for former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar.

New Delhi, July 13 : President Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam will be conferred with the King Charles II Medal by the Royal Society, UK after the July 19 presidential polls in view of the week-long period of mourning for former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar.

The medal is being given in recognition of Kalam's extraordinary contributions to the promotion of science and science in society in India. He is only the second person to receive the prestigious accolade.

The award, which is only for the heads of state, was previously given to Emperor Akihito of Japan in 1998.

"President Kalam has led India at a time when science and technology investment in the country has radically increased. He has played a major part in preparing a road map for transforming India from developing status into a developed nation. As a scientist himself he has also made a great contribution to scientific advances in his country," said Lord Martin Rees, the president of the Royal Society.A ceremony to award the medal was to be held in Delhi and London today. The Royal Society will now confer the medal at a later date.

ANI