Hemant Kotalwar, charge d’affaires at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, said: “He was a great scientist, a wonderful president and, above all, an inspiring individual, who did so much for the country and left a rich legacy to inspire the new generation. I salute the great soul.”

Suhail Ahmad of Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA) said: “Dr. Kalam was very truly a people’s president and lived up to the people’s expectations.”

Ghizal Mahdi, president of Jamia Millia Islamia Alumni Association, described Kalam as “a president who truly identified himself with the common people cutting across the lines of region, religion, caste and sect.”

“He was a great scientist who worked hard for national pride and was looked upon as a strong motivational force for the people of all ages, especially for the children,” he said.

Akhtarul Islam Nadwi, general secretary of Nadwatul Ulema Old Boys Association, said: “May Allah place him in His decent place in Jannah.”

Mohammed Quaiser, president of Tanzeem Hum Hindustani (THH), said: “Dr. Kalam was a man of many parts, he won the hearts and minds of a nation with his warmth and wisdom.”

Bihar Foundation Chairman Obaidur Rahman said: “Few Indian leaders in the 21st century enjoyed the kind of popularity experienced by Kalam, which was evident by the near-unanimous backing of his election as India’s 11th president in 2002 among all the parties across India’s fractious political spectrum, as well as the overwhelming outpouring of grief at his death.”

Javed Husain of Bihar Anjuman said: “In Dr. Kalam, we have lost a great leader who inspired young minds to achieve extraordinary feats in life.”

Indian government has declared a seven-day national mourning as a mark of respect for Dr. Kalam.