By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, July 27, 2015 : The father of the country’s military missile programme and India’s former president APJ Kalam on Monday died after collapsing while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management in the Meghalaya state capital, Shillong. He was 83.

Kalam was the country’s president from 2002- 2007. He was a scientist and science administrator par excellence for four decades before that, mainly at the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation [DRDO] and the Indian Space Research Organisation [ISRO].

He played a key organisational and technical role in India’s missile development and nuclear programme.

Kalam fell sick while addressing the students of the Indian Institute of Management in the Meghalaya state capital, Shillong, said B Warjri, chief secretary of the state. He was rushed to the hospital, but was declared dead by doctors.

The government of India has declared national mourning for seven days for him, home secretary LC Goyal said.

“He was an inspiration to an entire generation,” home minister Rajnath Singh tweeted.

After his presidential term ended, Kalam travelled to remote schools and colleges, speaking to students and inspiring them to follow their dreams.

Even after he left office, he received hundreds of emails each day from high-school students and young people seeking his advice. He would reply to most of the children who wrote to him.