Dr. A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM

 DR A.P.J.ABDUL KALAAM
 (MISSILE MAN OF INDIA)    

Birth -15 oct 1931 Rameswaram

Death - 27 July 2015 Shillong                          

The full name of Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalaam was Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was the 11th President of the Republic of India. Former President of India Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was one of India's most successful and respected scientists. Dr. Abdul Kalam became the 11th President of India on 25th July 2002.

EARLY LIFE OF DR. APJ ABDUL KALAM

Kalam was born on 15th October 1931 in Rameswaram, Madras (Present Day- Tamilnadu, India). Kalam was brought up in a very poor joint family. His father, Jainulabdeen Marakayar, was an imam of a mosque and a boat owner.

In his school, Kalam was recognized as a bright and hardworking student. Sources say that Kalam had to sell newspapers with his cousin to add the family income. After completing his schooling at Schwartz Higher secondary, Kalam attended Saint Joseph College, Tiruchirappalli. Kalam graduated in physics in 1954. He started Aerospace engineering in 1955 at Madras Institute of Technology. He just missed his dream of becoming a fighter pilot, with one position in IAF.

CAREER AS SCIENTIST OF ABDUL KALAM

After completing his education at Madras Institute of Technology in 1960, Kalam joined the Aeronautical Development Establishment of DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organization. Kalam started his career by designing a Hovercraft. Kalam was also part of INCOSPAR committee working under Vikram Sarabhai. Kalam was moved to the ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) in 1969. Kalam was the project director of India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-lll). Kalam successfully made the development of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and SLV-lll projects. Dr. Kalam played a vital role in developing the missile mission Agni, an intermediate-range ballistic missile, and Prithvi. Kalam worked as Chief Scientific Adviser to Prime Minister and Secretary of the DRDO from July 1992 to December 1999. He also played a role in the 1998 Pokhran-II tests under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. 

PRESIDENCY OF ABDUL KALAM

A.P.J.Abdul Kalam was elected as 11th president of the Republic of India. As an NDA party candidate, Kalam participated in the presidential election and won with an electoral vote of 922,88,4, surpassing the 107,366 votes won by Lakshmi Sahgal (congress party candidate).

Kalam was the third President of India to possess been honored with a Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor; before becoming the President, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1954) and Zakir Hussain (1963) were the sooner recipients of Bharat Ratna later became the President of India. He was also the primary scientist and, therefore, the first bachelor to occupy Rashtrapati Bhawan. During his term as President, he was known as the People's President. Kalam supported the need for Uniform Civil Code in India, keeping in view the country's population. He was working on a vision to transforming India into a developed nation by 2020.

PERSONAL LIFE OF ABDUL KALAM

Kalam was the youngest of 6 siblings. Kalam was very close to his eldest sister and their extended families, who sold his ornaments for the Kalam’s education. Kalam is known for his simple lifestyle; That’s why people called him people’s President. Kalam remained the bachelor throughout his life. From 1992 to 1997, Kalam was scientific adviser to the defense minister, and he later served as principal scientific adviser (1999–2001) to the govt with the rank of a cabinet minister. His prominent role within the country’s 1998 nuclear weapons tests solidified India as an atomic power. It established Kalam as a national hero, although the tests caused great concern in the international community. Abdul Kalam was felicitated with a Padma Bhushan in 1981, Padma Vibhushan in 1990, then received India's highest civilian honor Bharat Ratna in 1997. After the end of his tenure as President of the country, he delivered lectures to students and writing. Dr. Kalam was one of the most distinguished scientists of India, with the unique honor of receiving honorary doctorates from 48 Universities and institutions from India and abroad. The Honorary Doctorates include Nyenrode Business University, Netherlands; Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburg USA; University of Wolverhampton, UK; University of Kentucky, USA; Oakland University, Michigan USA; University of Waterloo, Canada; University Sans Malaysia, Malaysia University of Sydney, Australia and therefore the Simon Fraser University, Vancouver. 

Kalam also authored many books, including the famous Wings of Fire and Ignited Minds, which inspired children and adults to pursue their dreams.

DEATH OF ABDUL KALAM

He died after suffering asystole while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong, on 27th July 2015. All post-death rituals were conducted in his hometown Rameswaram with full state honors. He, however, continues to measure within the hearts of Indians.