New Delhi : The industry condole the sudden demise of former President A P J Abdul Kalam describing him as a "visionary guide and mentor", whose death is an "irreparable loss to the nation".

"APJ Abdul Kalam was a great motivator, a constant inspiration, and a unique mentor for India and Indian industry. His vision for a developed and technologically superior India motivated industry's engagement in leveraging technology for competitiveness," CII President Sumit Mazumder said.

Expressing similar views, PHD Chamber President Alok B Shriram said: "His death is an irreparable loss to the nation as he has left a big void difficult to fill." ASSOCHAM President Rana Kapoor said Kalam always made efforts to help India reach "greater heights in the world of innovation, technology and self reliance".

He gave a "new dimension to Rashtrapati Bhawan as he became the people's President with whom every Indian, be it a child, student, farmer, scientist or industrialist could identify himself or herself", Kapoor added.

Describing Kalam as one of the India's finest Presidents, Larsen & Toubro Group Executive Chairman A M Naik said he was a scientist and technocrat who endeared himself to all. While expressing grief at his death GVK EMRI, of which Kalam was the Chairman Emeritus, said the former President "always encouraged the use of technology in the business of saving lives".

Biocon CMD Kiran Mazumdar Shaw tweeted Kalam was "a rare jewel who was the people's president loved by the young and the old". Paying homage to the departed leader, All India Management Association (AIMA) President Hemant Nerurkar said: "Dr Kalam was a friend and a guide to India's management fraternity and he was a great management teacher."

He was a visionary and could foresee the transformative influence of technology. Nearly a decade ago, he advised AIMA to create virtual universal classroom at a time when the massive online open courses were yet to become a trend anywhere in the world, AIMA added.