Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
Birth and educational life-
Dr. Abdul Kalam’s full name was Avul Pakir Zainulabidin Abdul Kalam. He was born into a Muslim household on October 15, 1931, in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. His mother Ashiamma worked as a housekeeper, and his father Zainulabidin was a seaman. His family’s financial situation was poor, therefore he had to start working at an early age. Dr. A. P.J. Abdul Kalam is also known as India’s Missile Man. He was the first scientist to hold the presidency and the first Indian President to receive the most votes. Under his command, the Rohini-1 satellite and the Agni and Prithvi missiles were successfully launched. He was also involved in India’s nuclear tests in 1974 and 1998. In 1997, he was awarded the Bharat Rattan. After school, Kalam used to deliver newspapers to help his father out financially. Although Kalam was a typical student during his time at school, he was constantly eager to learn new things.
He enrolled at St. Joseph’s College in Tiruchirappalli after completing his studies at Ramanathapuram Schwartz Matriculation School, where he graduated with a degree in physics in 1954. He moved to Madras to pursue a career in aircraft engineering after that, in 1955. The Madras Institute of Technology awarded Dr. Kalam an engineering degree in 1960. The letter of application was written by President Kalam himself. The subject of a sketch that was given to Dr. Kalam once. He was astonished to discover that Dr. Kalam had personally written a message for him and included a thank-you card with his signature.
The career of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam-
He was assigned to the ISRO in 1969, where he served as the Project Director. He played a key role in the development of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and the first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV III) (PSLV). made a substantial contribution, and the launch went well after that. Under Abdul Kalam’s leadership, the Indian government considered launching a modern missile program in 1980, therefore he once more assigned it to DRDO. After that, Kalam was appointed as the program’s chief executive, and the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) was launched. Only following Abdul Kalam’s orders was it possible to successfully produce a missile like the Agni missile or the Prithvi.
Dr. Kalam understood the importance of education in developing a capable future for an individual or a nation. He was continually talking about getting the country back on track. He had a definite vision for the future, which he laid out in his book ‘India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium.’ He argued in his book India 2020 that India must become a developed country and information superpower by the year 2020. He stated that the media must play an important part in the country’s prosperity. Negative news can’t provide someone with anything but positive and development-related news Dr. Kalam will be remembered as an outstanding scientist, administrator, educator, and writer, as he was the president of India.
Defense Minister (from 1992-1997)-
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was appointed Science Advisor to the Defense Minister and Secretary of the Department of Security Research and Development in 1992. He held this position until 1999. His name is on the list of the Government of India’s Chief Scientists. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was granted India’s highest accolade, the “Bharat Ratna,” in 1997 for his contributions to science and Indian security.
11th President of India (from 2002 to 2007)-
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was chosen as the NDA party’s presidential candidate from the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2002, and with the support of all, he was elected the country’s 11th President on July 18, 2002. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam retired from the post of President on July 25, 2007, after holding the highest office in India and playing an important role in transforming India into a developed country during his tenure.
As a Teacher-
After relinquishing the presidency, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam became the Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology in Thiruvananthapuram and a professor at Anna University’s Aerospace Engineering College. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was invited to be a visiting professor in many colleges and schools across the country so that all of the country’s children could benefit from Kalam’s guidance in moving forward and fulfilling their dreams.
Contribution to literature-
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam once said that if a person wants to live even after death, he should write or do work worth reading. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam has given these words meaning; he has not only written many books, autobiographies, and poems, but he has also done many commendable works that are still a source of inspiration for every scientist; his main books are as follows:
- Ignited mind
- Autobiography wigs of fire
- Mission India,
- My journey
- The luminous spark
- Advantage India, Reignited
- A Manifesto for Change, Inspiring Thought
- You are born to blossom
Rewards
Many countries have given Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam awards and honors. He received the Bharat Ratna from the Government of India in 1997 for his outstanding contribution to science and Indian defense, as well as the Padma Bhushan in 1981 and 1990.
In July 2015, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam delivered a speech at a meeting to establish the Indian Institute of Management in Shillong, Meghalaya. He was about 84 years old at the time. He collapsed unconscious while giving a speech due to a heart attack. All medical efforts failed, and he died two hours later on July 27, 2015. He abandoned us all and was never seen again. A seven-day state mourning period was declared in his honor on the day of his death.