A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (1931-2015)

 

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was an Indian scientist and politician who served as President of India between 2002 to 2007.

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Who was A.P.J. Abdul Kalam?

After graduating from the Madras Institute of Technology, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam joined India's military department as an aeronautical scientist. He was a key role in the development of the country's nuclear capabilities, and following a series of successful tests in 1998, he was acclaimed as a national hero. Kalam was India's president for one term, from 2002 to 2007.

His nickname was Missile Man.

Early Years

On October 15, 1931, on the island of Dhanushkodi off the southeastern coast of India, Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born into a Muslim family. By watching birds, he developed an early interest in flight, which grew into an interest in aeronautics after seeing a newspaper article on a British fighter plane.

Kalam was a bright student who showed promise in physics and mathematics despite his humble beginnings — his father built and rented boats. He went to St. Joseph's College and graduated from the Madras Institute of Technology with a degree in aeronautical engineering.

Ascend to the Presidency

When he just missed out on a position with the Indian Air Force, his dreams of becoming a fighter pilot were shattered. In 1958, Kalam accepted a position as a senior scientific assistant with the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). He was named project director of the SLV-III, the first satellite launch vehicle designed and produced on Indian soil, after joining the newly founded Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in 1969.

In 1982, Kalam returned to the DRDO as director and put in place the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. In 1992, he was appointed as the senior scientific adviser to India's defense minister, a position he utilized to promote nuclear testing.

In May 1998, Kalam was a crucial figure in the Pokhran-II nuclear experiments in the Rajasthan Desert, in which five nuclear bombs were exploded. Despite the fact that other world powers condemned the tests and imposed economic sanctions, Kalam was lauded as a national hero for his unwavering support of the country's security.

In 2002, India's ruling National Democratic Alliance aided Kalam in defeating Lakshmi Sahgal in an election that saw him become India's 11th president, a primarily ceremonial position. Kalam, also known as the People's President, established a target of holding 500,000 one-on-one interactions with young people throughout his five-year presidency. Because of his enormous popularity, he was nominated for an MTV Youth Icon of the Year award in 2003 and 2006.

Death & Legacy

Kalam died on July 27, 2015, at the age of 83, after suffering a major heart attack while lecturing at the Indian Institute of Management.

In his home Tamil Nadu, Kalam was put to rest on July 30 with full state honors. The Tamil Nadu state government founded the "Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award" to honor the scientist and former president. The award acknowledges remarkable persons who promote science, students, and the humanities. Kalam's birthday (October 15) has also been designated as "Youth Renaissance Day" by the government. The idea of erecting a large-scale memorial at his gravesite is being discussed.

He was awarded the Padma Bhushan (1981), the Padma Vibhushan (1990), and the Bharat Ratna (1997) - India's highest civilian honors — for his contributions to modernizing government defense technology. He has penned a number of novels, including the autobiographical Wings of Fire, which was published in 1999.

Some great quotes of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

"Teaching is a very noble profession that shapes the character, caliber, and future of an individual. If people remember me as a good teacher, that will be the biggest honor for me."

"You have to dream before your dreams can come true."

"Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work."

"If you want to shine like a sun, first burn like a sun."

"Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world."