Former Indian President Pays Visit to Edina

It's not every day that a former president pays a visit to Edina. And it's even less common when that dignitary hails from as far away as India.

Dr. Abdul Kalam, who served as India's 11th president from 2002-2007, was visiting the United States to receive the National Space Society's Wernher von Braun Memorial Award. But before heading to San Diego to receive the award—which honors him for work to support India's space program—Kalam decided to pay a visit to Edina.

Sri Venkateswara (Balaiji) Temple President Madhu Reddy requested Kalam pay a visit to the Edina temple to meet with community leaders, including Mayor Jim Hovland and others.

Kalam spoke to a standing-room-only crowd about the importance of hard work, values and the critical nature of a good education. The former Indian president rose from poor beginnings to become a nuclear scientist and educator.

Hovland said it was an honor to have Dr. Kalam visiting Edina, calling the opportunity to meet the former president "a wonderful experience."

“He was very curious about our community and hearing about the quality of our education system, he was very impressed," Hovland said. "Seldom have I met a man so serene with life and himself and it was a pleasure representing our town at the event.”