Former President and Missile Man of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, is one of the most beloved figures of our nation. Known for his humility, support for humanitarian causes, and commitment towards grassroots creativity and innovation, this Bharat Ratan awardee is widely respected and remembered. His work on the development of ballistic missiles and launch vehicle technology gave him the title of the Missile Man of India. Widely referred to as the “People’s President”, APJ Abdul Kalam served as the 11th president of India from 2002 to 2007.
APJ Abdul Kalam story: Childhood and Adolescent years
On October 15, 1931, APJ Abdul Kalam aka Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born into a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage center of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. Kalam had four older brothers and one older sister. His father Jainulabdeen, an imam of a local mosque owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi. At the same time, his mother Ashiamma was a housewife. In 1914, the Pamban Bridge opened to the mainland, causing their business to sink.
Over time the family fortune and properties were lost, apart from the ancestral home. Kalam’s family had become poor by his early childhood. This further led to him selling newspapers from an early age to supplement his family’s income. He completed his education at the Schwartz Higher Secondary School, Ramanathapuram, and went on to attend Saint Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli. Kalam graduated from there in 1954 with a degree in Physics. He then moved to Madras to study aerospace engineering at the Madras Institute of Technology. He graduated in 1960.
APJ Abdul Kalam journey: From scientist to President
After graduation, APJ Abdul Kalam joined the Aeronautical Development Establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organisation as a scientist after becoming a member of the Defence Research & Development Service (DRDS). Kalm worked under the renowned space scientist, Vikram Sarabhai, as part of the INCOSPAR committee. He was transferred to ISRO in 1969, where he acted as the project director of India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III).
SLV-III successfully deployed the Rohini satellite in near-earth orbit in July 1980. During the 1970s to 1990s, Kalam was directly involved in the development of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and SLV-III projects, both of which proved to be successful. From July 1992 to December 1999, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam served as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister and Secretary of the Defence Research and Development Organisation. In the 2002 presidential election, he won with an electoral vote of 922,884, surpassing the 107,366 votes won by Lakshmi Sahgal.
It was during his presidency characterized by a unique blend of humility, wisdom, and a deep connection with the people, that he was affectionately named the “People’s President”. Unlike many previous presidents, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam preferred to stay away from the traditional trappings of the office and chose to engage directly with the youth and various communities across the country.
APJ Abdul Kalam success story: How he became the Missile man of India
APJ Abdul Kalam directed Project Devil and Project Valiant in the 1970s, which sought to develop ballistic missiles from the technology of the successful SLV programme. As the chief executive of the mission named Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), he played a major role in developing many missiles including Agni, an intermediate-range ballistic missile, and Prithvi, the tactical surface-to-surface missile. During his term as the Secretary of the DRDO, he played an intensive political and technological role in the Pokhran-II nuclear tests conducted at the time.
APJ Abdul Kalam death: Last days of the Legend
Post his single term presidency, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam focused on his passion for teaching and inspiring the youth of the country for the development of India. It was during this time, he associated with several colleges and institutes as a visiting professor and an honorary fellow. On 27th July 2015, he was delivering a lecture on “Creating a Livable Planet Earth” at IIM Shillong when at 6:30 pm he suffered a heart attack. He was shifted to Bethany Hospital where Despite being placed in the intensive care unit, he died of cardiac arrest. In memory of the legend, the DRDO built The Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam National Memorial in Pei Karumbu, in the island town of Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
APJ Abdul Kalam inspiring story: Encouraging young minds of India
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam served as the President of India from 25 July 2002 to 25 July 2007, after which he returned to his civilian life of education, writing, and public service. He authored and co-authored several books in his lifetime. Several of these books where he expressed his opinions about the country and ignited the minds of the youth went on to become bestsellers. He was an unwavering source of inspiration for young minds, encouraging them to dream big and work towards a prosperous India.
He always encouraged children to dream big, stating that–“You have to dream before your dreams can come true.” His transition from a middle-class child to the President of India is an inspirational journey for the young minds of India. His dream of inspiring students lives on even after his departure.
APJ Abdul Kalam quotes: His words continue to inspire us
- “Don’t take rest after your first victory because if you fail in the second, more lips are waiting to say that your first victory was just luck.”
- “If you want to shine like a sun, first burn like a sun.”
- “If four things are followed – having a great aim, acquiring knowledge, hard work, and perseverance – then anything can be achieved.”
- “Determination is the power that sees us through all our frustrations and obstacles. It helps us in building our willpower which is the very basis of success.”
- “Dream is not that which you see while sleeping it is something that does not let you sleep.”
- “A big shot is a little shot who keeps on shooting, so keep trying.”
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