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``WINGS OF FIRE'': Autobiography of A P J Kalam, India's`` Missile Man'' President

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Tamim Jahan

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Abstract: APJ Abdul Kalam is renowned Indian scientist and administrator, who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. He is compassionate soul with a beautiful mind. His co-authored autobiography with subordinate Arun Tiwari entitles “Wings of Fire”. His majestic tutelage, within modest means of his Patriarch during infantile years attributes to the grandeur accomplishments in his later life. The episodes from his juvenile ages analyzed and explored to determine the genesis of his acumen and eminence in the present context. Keywords: Genesis, Nurture, Tutelage, Acumen, Eminence, Infantile, Mystics, Attributes, Juvenile, Reconnoitre

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Book Review: “Wings of Fire: An Autobiography of Abdul Kalam” by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and Arun Tiwari

“Wings of Fire: An Autobiography of Abdul Kalam”  is written by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and Arun Tiwari. This book is an autobiography of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, former president of India. This story sheds light on the journey of a young boy from Rameswaram to become a renowned scientist. It reflects how simple living, dedication, strong will and hard work led to success. It also shows how cultural unity impacts the lives of individuals.

The story begins with Kalam as a boy  around 1930 in the village of Rameswaram where he lived with his parents and four brothers and one sister. In this book, the author tells us how the role of family, relatives, friends, and society contribute to an individual’s life. Kalam describes his village where everyone lives in harmony. Religious discrimination was unknown at that time. A passage that shows the closeness  they had:  “The high priest of Rameswaram temple , Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry , was a very close friend of my father’s . One of the most vivid memories of my early childhood is of the two men , each in his traditional attire , discussing spiritual matters.”

When he was very young, Kalam wanted to join the Indian Airforce but he was not able to clear the interview. Far from being demotivated, he focused more on studies, started his career in Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), and was involved in the design of a hovercraft. He went to NASA on a training program. He moved to Indian Space Research and there he met Vikram Sarabhai. He also met many geniuses who inspired him. The book also describes leadership and teamwork, while making the projects. It shows how a  man becomes a leader whenever there is a successful project or a failed one.

The book reveals extensive and detailed project work by Dr. APJ Kalam, which I find distracting from the story of his life. Some readers may find this detailed descriptions boring and unappealing. It highlights the successful execution of “Agni” and other projects.

The book narrates India’s technological achievements at a time, few nations can boast of. It speaks about some brilliant minds who worked behind Indian space research such as Vikram Sarabhai and Dr. Brahm Prakash and their contribution towards ISRO.

As a reader, this book initially is very interesting particularly the portions from his younger days to a college student like how his family encouraged him. Later, the writing becomes a bit monotonous as it gives minute illustrations of the projects. At the end, he offers advice to the younger generation not to get demotivated and lead a positive life.

This book demonstrates how Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s simple living and positive thinking became an inspiration for the Indian youth.

Argha Chakraborty

Divyanshi   .

It is very helpful for me after writing this review I read the book wings of fire and I love this book I like to read this type of books it helps us to motivate our self and self inspiration.

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A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was an Indian scientist and politician who served his country as president from 2002 to 2007.

(1931–2015)

Quick Facts

Early years, rise to the presidency, death and legacy, who was a.p.j. abdul kalam.

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was an aerospace scientist who joined India's defense department after graduating from the Madras Institute of Technology. He was a central figure in the development of the country's nuclear capabilities and was hailed as a national hero after a series of successful tests in 1998. Kalam served as India's president for one term from 2002 to 2007, and died of a heart attack on July 27, 2015.

FULL NAME: A.P.J. Abdul Kalam BORN: October 15, 1931 DIED: July 27, 2015 BIRTHPLACE: Dhanushkodi, Rameswaram, India SCHOOLS: Madras Institute of Technology, St. Joseph's College ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Leo

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

Despite his modest beginnings – his dad built and rented boats – Kalam was a bright student who showed promise in science and mathematics. He attended St. Joseph's College and went on to earn a degree in aeronautical engineering from the Madras Institute of Technology.

His hopes of becoming a fighter pilot were dashed when he narrowly missed out on a spot with the Indian Air Force. Kalam instead joined the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) as a senior scientific assistant in 1958. After moving to the newly formed Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in 1969, he was named project director of the SLV-III, the first satellite launch vehicle designed and produced on Indian soil.

Returning to the DRDO as director in 1982, Kalam implemented the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. He then became the senior scientific adviser to India's defense minister in 1992, a position he used to campaign for the development of nuclear tests.

Kalam was a key figure in the May 1998 Pokhran-II tests, in which five nuclear devices were detonated in the Rajasthan Desert. Although the tests resulted in condemnation and economic sanctions from other world powers, Kalam was hailed as a national hero for his staunch defense of the country’s security.

In 2002, India's ruling National Democratic Alliance helped Kalam win an election against Lakshmi Sahgal and become India's 11th president, a largely ceremonial post. Known as the People's President, Kalam set a goal of conducting 500,000 one-on-one meetings with young people over the course of his five-year term. His immense popularity led to him being nominated by MTV for a Youth Icon of the Year award in 2003 and 2006.

After leaving office in 2007, Kalam became a visiting professor at several universities. He formed the "What Can I Give Movement" in 2011 with the goal of creating a compassionate society, and in 2012, his efforts to improve healthcare led to the release of a tablet for medical personnel to use in remote areas.

On July 27, 2015, Kalam suffered a massive heart attack while lecturing at the Indian Institute of Management and subsequently died at the age of 83.

Kalam was laid to rest on July 30 with full state honors in his native Tamil Nadu. In honor of the scientist and former president, the southeast Indian state government of Tamil Nadu created a "Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award," which recognizes exceptional individuals who promote the sciences, students and humanities. The government has also established Kalam's birthday (October 15) as "Youth Renaissance Day." Discussion about building a large-scale memorial at his burial site is underway.

Among his many accolades, including honorary doctorates from 40 universities, he was granted the Padma Bhushan (1981), the Padma Vibhushan (1990) and the Bharat Ratna (1997) — India's highest civilian awards — for his contributions in modernizing government defense technology. He also wrote several books, including the autobiography Wings of Fire in 1999.

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Dr. A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM

15 October, 1931 – 27 July, 2015

Born on 15 th October 1931 at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, DR AVUL PAKIR JAINULABDEEN ABDUL KALAM, specialized in Aeronautical Engineering from M adras Institute of Technology(MIT) . DR ABDUL KALAM made significant contribution as project director to develop India’s first indigenous satellite launch vehicle {SLV-3} which successfully injected the Rohini satellite in the near earth orbit in july 1980 and made India an exclusive member of space club. He was responsible for the evolution of ISRO’S launch vehicle programme, particularly the PSLV configuration. After working for two decades in ISRO and mastering launch vehicle technologies,  DR. KALAM took up the responsibility of developing indigenous guided missiles at D efense Re search and De velopment O rganization (DRDO) as the Chief Executive of integrated guided missile development programme. He was responsible for the development and operationalisation of AGNI and PRITHVI missiles and for building indigenous capability in critical technologies through networking of multiple institutions . He was the scientific advisor to defense minister and secretary , department of defense research and development from July 1992 to December 1999. During this period, he led to the weaponisation of strategic missile systems and the pokharan-2 nuclear tests in collaboration with the department of atomic energy, which made India a nuclear weapon state. He also gave thrust to self reliance in defense systems by programming multiple development tasks and mission projects such as Light Combat Aircraft. As chairman of Technology Information Forecasting and Aassessments council and as an eminent scientist, he led the country with the help of 500 experts to arrive at technology vision 2020 giving a road map for transforming India from the present developing status to a developed nation. DR ABDUL KALAM has served as the principal scientific advisor to the GOVERNMENT OF INDIA in the rank of cabinet minister, from November 1999-2001 and was responsible for evolving policies, strategies and missions for many development applications. DR KALAM was also the chairman, EX-officer of the scientific advisory committee to the cabinet { SAC-C} and piloted India Millennium Mission 2020.

DR ABDUL KALAM took up academic pursuit as professor, technology and societal transformation at ANNA UNIVERSITY, Chennai from November 2001 and was involved in teaching and research tasks. Above all he took up a mission to ignite the young minds for national development by meeting high school students across the country.  In his literary pursuit his books like “ W ings of F ire” “India 2020- a vision for new millennium”  “my journey” and “ignited minds- unleashing the power within India “ have become household names in India and among the Indian nationals abroad. These books have been translated in many Indian languages. In 2015 he was particularly working for SPACE SOLAR POWER at global level along with WORLD KNLOWLEDGE PLATFORM.

DR ABDUL KALAM is one of the most distinguished scientists of India with the unique honour of receiving honorary doctorates from 48 universities all over the world. He has been awarded the coveted civilian awards- Padma Bhusan {1981} and Padma Vibhusan {1990} and the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna  {1997}. He has also received the King Charles-2 medal {2007}, the Woodrow Wilson award {2008}, the Hoover award {2008} and the International Von Karman Wings Award  Widespread {2009} among other international accolades.  Recognition  coupled with his extensive national service, made DR ABDUL KALAM a popular choice for high office, and he became the 11 th president of India in 2002. His popularity has endured and he is still  affectionately called the People’s President for bridging the gap between high office and common people.  His focus and the greatest ambition remains finding ways to transform India into a developed nation.  

As an elder statesman, he was in the Public eye for his role in offering counsel, reaching out to people and building bridges across religious and social divides. DR ABDUL KALAM’S focus was ever on transforming  India into a developed nation by 2020 and to this end he continued to travel across the country for his teaching assignments at IITs and IIMs, to address conferences and to meet students and people from all walks of life.

He passed away at one such lecture he had gone to deliver of Shillong on 27 July 2015. His message and influence continue to resonate with people across the country, and in all walks of life.

Books by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

1. India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium Publishing year: 1998

2. Wings of Fire: An Autobiography Publishing year: 1999

3. Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power within India Publishing year: 2002

4. The Luminous Sparks: A Biography in Verse and Colours Publishing year: 2004

5. Guiding Souls: Dialogues on the Purpose of Life Publishing year: 2005 Co-author: Arun Tiwari

6. Mission of India: A Vision of Indian Youth Publishing year: 2005

7. Inspiring Thoughts: Quotation Series Publishing year: 2007

8. You Are Born to Blossom: Take My Journey Beyond Publishing year: 2011 Co-author: Arun Tiwari

9. The Scientific India: A Twenty First Century Guide to the World around Us Publishing year: 2011 Co-author: Y. S. Rajan

10. Failure to Success: Legendry Lives Publishing year: 2011

11. Target 3 Billion Publishing year: 2011 Co-author: ‎Srijan Pal Singh

12. You are Unique: Scale New Heights by Thoughts and Actions Publishing year: 2012 Co-author: S. Poonam Kohli

13. Turning Points: A Journey through Challenges Publishing year: 2012

14. Indomitable Spirit Publishing year: 2013

15. Spirit of India Publishing year: 2013

16. Thoughts for Change: We Can Do It Publishing year: 2013 Co-author: A. Sivathanu Pillai

17. My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions Publishing year: 2013

18. Governance for Growth in India Publishing year: 2014

19. Manifesto for Change Publishing year: 2014 Co-author: V. Ponraj

20. Forge Your Future: Candid, Forthright, Inspiring Publishing year: 2014

21. Beyond 2020: A Vision for Tomorrow’s India Publishing year: 2014

22. The Guiding Light: A Selection of Quotations from My Favourite Books Publishing year: 2015

23. Reignited: Scientific Pathways to a Brighter Future Publishing year: 2015 Co-author: ‎Srijan Pal Singh

24. The Family and the Nation Publishing year: 2015 Co-author: Acharya Mahapragya

25. Transcendence My Spiritual Experiences Publishing year: 2015 Co-author: Arun Tiwari

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• Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam Biography

The Missile Man of India: Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

Great personalities are not born every day; they are born once in a century and are remembered for millennials to come. One such great personality that we will always be proud of is Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam . His full name was Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, born in Rameswaram of Madras Presidency on 15th October 1931 and died on July 27, 2015, Shillong. He was an Indian Scientist and also a politician leader, who later became the 11th President of India. He played an important role in the development of India’s missile and nuclear weapons program.

It is an absolute honor for us to learn about his great leader in the form of his biography . Without much ado, let us start.

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam's Biography - About His Family and Struggle Life 

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam was born to a poor Tamil Muslim family. He lived with his family in the temple city of Tamilnadu, Rameswaram, where his father, Jainulabdeen, had a boat and was an imam of a local mosque. At the same time, his mother, Ashiamma, was a housewife. Kalam had four brothers and one sister in his family, from which he was the youngest. Kalam's ancestors were wealthy traders and landowners and had vast land and property tracts. But with time, their business of ferrying pilgrims and trading groceries suffered huge losses due to the Pamban Bridge's opening. As a result, Kalam's family had become inadequate and struggled hard to make a living. At a tender age, Kalam had to sell newspapers to supplement his family income.

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam's Biography - Educational Background of Kalam

Although Kalam had average grades in school, he was very hard working and had an immense desire to learn. He spent a lot of time studying and had developed a particular interest in mathematics. Kalam left Schwartz higher secondary school after completing his early education and went to Saint Joseph's College, Tiruchirapalli . From Saint Joseph's College, he graduated in physics in 1954. He moved to Madras in 1955 to study aerospace engineering at Madras Institute of Technology.

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam's Biography - Kalam as a Scientist

Kalam joined as a scientist in the aeronautical development establishment of DRDO in 1960, after graduation. His career started with him designing a small hovercraft. However, he was not convinced by his choice of a job at the DRDO. Kalam was transferred to ISRO in 1969, where he was the project director of India's first satellite vehicle launch. The satellite vehicle deployed the Rohini satellite successfully in near-Earth orbit in July 1980. Kalam received the Government's LV and Slv projects between the 1970s-90s. He directed two projects like Project Devil and Project Valiant, which aimed at developing ballistic missiles from the successful SLV program's technology Kalam somehow convinced Indira Gandhi and sought secret funds for these aerospace projects. His research and immense knowledge brought him and the nation great laurels in the 1980s.

Kalam then went on to become the scientific advisor of the defence minister in 1992 and served at the same post for five years before getting promoted to the post of principal scientific advisor to the government. His immense role in the country's 1998 nuclear weapons tests solidified India as a nuclear power. Kamal had now become a national hero, to be remembered for ages to come. However, the tests he conducted caused a huge uproar in the international community. Kamal put forward a nationwide plan called Technology Vision 2020 , which according to him, was a fantastic way for transforming the stature of India in 20 years, taking it from a developing to a developed nation. The plan envisioned the progress of the nation by adopting advanced technology, expanding healthcare facilities, and emphasizing the education of the masses.

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam's Biography -Kalam as the 11th President of India 

Sir Kalam was entitled to be the 11th president of India. His term period of 25th July 2002 to 25th July 2007 was achieved by winning a presidential election in 2002 with a massive margin of votes. National Democratic Alliances’ nominated him to be president and it was supported by Samajwadi Party and National Congress Party. He was lovingly called as peoples’ president as he had done uncountable works for the welfare of the people and through the entire country.

He was brave and courageous enough to take decisions and implement them no matter if that was tough or sensitive or highly controversial. The “office of profit” is perhaps the hard Act that he had to sign. The “ office of profit ”, according to the English Act of Settlement in 1701 explains that no single individual who has a professional set up under the royal family, who has some kind of provision with or who is taking a pension from the prince has the right to work for the of the “ House of Commons ”. This will allow the royal family to have zero influence on the administrative conditions.

He had also become one of the most talked-about presidents Rule in 2005 for imposing the Presidents’ rule in Bihar. Kalam expressed his wish to take up the position one more time but then later changed his mind.

After taking farewell from the office, he shifted and commenced his career as a visiting professor at the Indian Institute of Management in Shillong. He served as an Aerospace Engineering professor at Anna University, Tamil Nadu. He also lit up educational institutions like the Indian Institute of Indore, Indian Institute of Bangalore with his presence and knowledge. Sir Kalam served as chancellor Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram.

In 2012, he introduced a program called “ What Can I Give ?” focusing on the theme of eradicating corruption from the country.

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam's Biography - The Demise of Abdul Kalam

Abdul Kalam was a mortal human being just like us, but for his contribution to the country he remained immortal in the hearts of people. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was one such personality who died at 83. It was shocking news for the entire country as a pure soul left us forever. Abdul Kalam while delivering a speech for the youth in an event at IIM Shillong. During the middle of the speech, he suffered from a cardiac arrest and collapsed. Although he got admitted to the best hospital in Shillong, the doctors could not save him.

Then his body was airlifted to Gugati, and from there, it was taken to New Delhi in an Airforce plane. Their President, vice president, and some other leaders prayed for his soul. His body was then covered in the Indian National flag and brought to his hometown. About 35000 people attended his funeral event and prayed for such a great soul.

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam's Biography - Writings of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

Dr. Abdul Kalam was a person who was not only a great political leader but also a good teacher and a writer. He had many delicate qualities and visionaries. He always had an excellent dream for the country's development and realized that the youth can bring revolution. During his university career, he inspired many of the students through his inspirational speech and tremendous visionaries. Apart from this, Dr. Kalam was a great writer. He has written several books, which are mainly meant for the nation's empowerment. His creation of India 2020 was like a gift for us, and he had all the strategies to make India a Superpower. In this book, he had primarily focused on some factors like food and development in the Agriculture sector, improved health care facilities, advanced information and communication system, good infrastructure, sufficiency in electricity production, Self-reliance in some advanced technologies.

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam's Biography - Achievements of Abdul Kalam

Abdul Kalam was a person of a golden heart who has received ample awards and achieved many things during his life journey. In 1981 Abdul Kalam received the prestigious Padma Bhushan award. In 1990 he received the Padma Bhushan award. The renowned personality, because of his tremendous effort towards the nation, received the Bharat Ratna in 1997. In the same year, he was awarded the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration. The government of India awarded Kalam with the Veer Savarkar award in 1998. Because of his contribution to arts, science, and technology, he received the SASTRA Ramanujan prize in 2000. Finally, in the year 2013, the eminent personality was bestowed with the Von Braun Award by the National Space Society.

Abdul Kalam’s Profession

APJ Abdul Kalam

This complex persona was a notable researcher displaying huge and unending science and mechanical innovative work. It was he who made our country atomic in its most genuine sense. It was in the year 1974, under the oversight of Dr. Kalam, that India went through its most memorable atomic test. Next came the Pokhran - II in the year 1988. It was through these atomic tests Dr. Kalam showed the world India's situation and power in atomic innovation.

Abdul kalam’s Grants and Accomplishments 

His works granted him three great honours from the Govt. of India specifically Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and the Bharat Ratna. In the year 1997, Kalam was likewise granted the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration. He was granted the Veer Savarkar Award in the year 1980 and the Ramanujan Award in the year 2000. From 40 colleges all over the world, Kalam got privileged doctorates.

Kalam’s Works and Motivation

He was the writer of various motivational books like "India 2010", "Touched off Minds", "Mission India", "The Luminous Sparks", "Wings of Fire", and "Moving Thoughts".

His life, work, and convictions are loaded up with models and motivations. He will keep on inspiring us for eternity. Furthermore, this is the genuine justification for why individuals from every one of the segments of the general public precipitously show love for this incredible person on his miserable end at IIM Shillong on 27th July 2015.

May this Noble and faithful Soul find happiness in the hereafter!

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam's Biography - Some Interesting Facts 

Let us now study some interesting facts about Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam:

His full name was Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam. 

He was born in a Tamil Muslim Family. 

Kalam was a vegeterian. In his words “I was forced to become a vegetarian due to financial constraints, but I eventually came to enjoy it.” Today, I am a complete vegetarian”

He was India’s ‘first bachelor President.

He was very popular among children. 

Kalam’s autobiography ‘Wings of Fire was initially published in English Language but then later published in 13 other languages. 

Although the life of Abdul Kalam was filled with struggles and hardships, he rose above the adversaries to become one of the greatest scientists of modern India. His role in nation-building will be remembered till posterity.

Abdul Kalam was elected as the eleventh president of India in 2002 with the assistance of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the then-competition Indian National Congress. He is widely referred to as the "People's President". He spent four decades as a scientist and science administrator, especially on the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and became concerned with India's civilian space program and army missile improvement efforts.

Abdul Kalam lowered back to his civilian lifestyle of schooling, writing, and public career after a single term. He received Bharat Ratna for his prestigious work.

FAQs on Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam Biography

1. Why is Abdul kalam known as the Missile man of India?

Being the largest democratic country globally, India did not have the right image in front of the world. As our country did not have any ballistic missiles or nuclear missiles, it was like a weaker country. 

Abdul Kalam had a different thought in his mind, and he was the only person who tried to bring revolution to the country through modern and advanced defence power. As a scientist, he encouraged other scientists of ISRO and DRDO and developed some powerful ballistic missiles with indigenous technology. E also talked with the prime minister of India, Indira Gandhi, and arranged some secret funds, which was very much useful for running such crucial projects. However, Kalam was first tied to empower India and created a strong image in front of the world. So Kalam is famous as the Missile man of India.

2. How Abdul Kalam became the President of India?

As a professor, Kalam used to spend some happy moments with students and other professors at Anna University. He loved teaching students something interesting with tremendous enthusiasm. Although the classroom's strength was sixty every day, around 350 youths gathered in his classroom to listen to a great professor's inspiring lecture. There was nothing unusual with that; he only used to understand a dynamic youth's mind and expressed his emotions through lectures. He used to emphasize his vision of modernizing the country and social transformation. He was assigned to teach ten lessons to the postgraduate students, and in the ninth lecture, he gave the example of several case studies. This was the most crucial period of his political career. The university's VC informed that he was receiving many calls, and many of the people wanted to talk. 

Then he received a call from the Prime minister of India, and he was shocked to listen to the news that many of the party leaders and the nation want him as the President of India. He did not control his emotion during that time as many pictures came to his mind like he was teaching inside the classroom and addressing inside the Parliament. This news became viral Abdul Kalam as a presidential candidate. Finally, Abdul Kalam won the presidential election and became the PresidentPresident of India's largest democratic country.

3. Why Abdul Kalam is renowned as the Youth Icon?

Dr. Abdul Kalam was the person who brought a revolution in the country in the field of Science, technology, aerospace, and Missile technology. He was the person who witnessed the nuclear test of India twice. He played a crucial role in the advancement of DRDO and ISRO. He was also on the advisory committee of the Defence minister. Coming from a low-income family, he had shown his mission and visionaries for the country's modernization. He also became the PresidentPresident of the country once and presented his thoughts and developed many indigenous ballistic missiles. Besides this, he was like an inspiration among youth and changed many students' motto as a professor. People are mad to listen to his inspirational words. All these god gifted qualities made him a youth icon.

4. What is the “Wings of Fire” all about?

Wings of Fire is an autobiography written by our beloved late President Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam. The book narrates the story of Sir Kalam through an extremely inspirational path. It clearly showcases the struggles he had to go through, the discrimination he had to face, the resilience and persistence he kept alive, the achievements he had made, and the dreams that had in him which let him fly high. The book is divided into 3 sections. The first section talks about his childhood and youth life. He was born to a financially humble family, but the members including his parents had good vision and heart. With much struggle, he completed his studies and first joined as a trainer in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Sir also mentions the people who helped the young Kalam to transform himself into a person who influences millions of people. 

The second section, called creation, explains his seventeen years of work-life and propitiation, which is the third section, travels the journey of a scientist to the “missile man of India”. 

5. What were the 5 ways in which Dr. Kalam wanted to change India?

The five ways in which Dr. Kalam wanted to change India are the following: 

What I Can Give Movement: This Movement was launched by A.P.J Abdul Kalam in order to spread awareness and understanding among the Indian youth about the danger of corruption and defeat it. The central theme is also the same. This notion was introduced to youngsters with an aim of creating change in their mindset from “greed” to what can be given from their side for societies’ benefit.

Billion Beats: Billion Beats is an e-paper that was founded by Dr. Kalam in 2007. It got circulated for a while and later got converted into a Facebook page. This digital platform page was used by him as a medium to share his interactions with achievers and their triumphs. 

India Vision 2020: Composed by the Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council, this plan was primarily a document, when Kalam sir was the chairman. But later, this significant transition project is elaborately explained in his book, wherein he identifies agriculture, infrastructure, education and healthcare, information and communication technologies and so on to be some of the core areas that should be concentrated to improve the GDP rate.

Pura: Aiming to build economic opportunities outside the cities and promote different migration from urban to rural, the Provision of Urban Amenities to Rural Areas was developed. 

Igniting Minds: This program acts as a bridge that connects about I lakh students to scientists, technicians and other leaders to make the learning of science much more exciting. The project is named after his successful book. 

6. Where did Abdul Kalam live as a child?

Abdul Kalam was born in a centre-magnificence Tamil circle of relatives in the island town of Rameswaram inside the country of Madras. His father, Jainulabdeen possessed notable innate wisdom. His mother, Ashiama turned into an ideal helpmate of his father. They lived in their ancestral pucca residence, located on mosque street in Rameswaram.

7. What do APJ Abdul Kalam do?

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam became the previous President of India and was referred to as Indian scientists. He was additionally related to India's Space and Missile Development Program, hence called Missile Man of India. Take this quiz on Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to recognize more approximately him. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam's complete name is Avul PakirJainulabdeen Abdul Kalam.

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam become born on 15 October 1931, to a Tamil Muslim own family in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. 

8. Why is APJ Abdul Kalam referred to as the Missile Man of India?

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam became an outstanding Indian scientist who served as the eleventh President of India from 2002 to 2007. Renowned for his pivotal role within the state’s civilian area program and army missile development, he was referred to as the Missile Man of India.

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Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam: Missile man of India

Last updated on October 17, 2022 by ClearIAS Team

The 90 th birth anniversary of the former president of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was observed on 15 th October in India. Dr. Kalam was a renowned scientist also known as the Missile Man of India. Read here to know more about his life and achievements.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was elected as India’s 11th president from 2002-2007 and died in 2015 while he was delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong at the age of 84.

The birth anniversary of Dr. Kalam is celebrated as National Innovation Day and World Students’ Day.

He was a highly respected and world-renowned scientist and was known as the ‘People’s President’ due to his relentless work to see the nation develop.

Table of Contents

The early life of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931, to a Tamil Muslim family in Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency, and now in the State of Tamil Nadu.

After completing his education at the Schwartz Higher Secondary School in Ramanathapuram, Kalam continued his education at Saint Joseph’s College in Tiruchirappalli, which was formerly a part of the University of Madras.

He earned a physics degree from this institution in 1954, and he moved to Madras in 1955 to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering there.

He came in ninth in the qualifiers, and there were only eight seats available in the Indian Air Force, thus he simply missed realizing his dream of becoming a fighter pilot.

After graduating from the Madras Institute of Technology in 1960, Kalam joined the Aeronautical Development Establishment of the  Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as a scientist after becoming a member of the Defence Research & Development Service (DRDS).

Dr. Kalam the Scientist

He described his time at DRDO as “ This was my first stage, in which I learned leadership from three great teachers, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai , Prof Satish Dhawan, and Dr. Brahm Prakash. This was the time of learning and acquisition of knowledge for me. ”

Dr. Kalam was also part of the INCOSPAR committee working under Vikram Sarabhai, the renowned space scientist.

In 1969 he moved to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), where he was the project director of the SLV-III, the first satellite launch vehicle that was both designed and produced in India.

• The SLV-III successfully deployed the Rohini satellite in near-earth orbit in July 1980.
• He was a pioneer in fiberglass technology and led a young team to initiate this effort in ISRO from design, and development leading to the production of composite rocket motor cases.

He visited NASA facilities in Greenbelt, Maryland’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Hampton, Virginia’s Langley Research Center, and Wallops Flight Facility in 1963 and 1964.

Between the 1970s and 1990s, Dr. Kalam worked to develop the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and SLV-III projects, both of which were ultimately successful.

He was invited by physicist Raja Ramanna to witness the country’s first nuclear test, Smiling Buddha , as the representative of the Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory (TBRL), even though he had not participated in its development.

In the 1970s, Dr. Kalam also directed two projects,  Project Devil  and  Project Valiant , which sought to develop ballistic missiles from the technology of the successful SLV program.

His research and educational leadership prompted the government to initiate an advanced missile program under his directorship in the 1980s.

Rejoining DRDO in 1982, Dr. Kalam planned the program that produced several successful missiles, which helped earn him the nickname “Missile Man.”

• He was the Chief Executive of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) .

Among those successes was Agni, India’s first intermediate-range ballistic missile, which incorporated aspects of the SLV-III and was launched in 1989.

Dr. Kalam served as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister and Secretary of the DRDO from July 1992 to December 1999.

The  Pokhran-II  nuclear tests were conducted during this period in which he played an intensive political and technological role.

• Dr. Kalam served as the Chief Project Coordinator, along with Rajagopala Chidambaram, during the testing phase.

From 1999-2001 he served as the principal scientific adviser to the government with the rank of a cabinet minister.

Kalam-Raju Stent:

• The “Kalam-Raju Stent,” created by Kalam and physician Soma Raju in 1998, is a low-cost coronary stent.
• In 2012, the team created the “Kalam-Raju Tablet,” a tough tablet computer for use in rural health care.

In 1998 Kalam put forward a countrywide plan called Technology Vision 2020, which he described as a road map for transforming India from a less-developed to a developed society in 20 years.

• The plan called for, among other measures, increasing agricultural productivity, emphasizing technology as a vehicle for economic growth, and widening access to health care and education.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam: The President of India

Dr. Kalam served as the 11th president of India, succeeding K. R. Narayanan. He won the 2002 presidential election surpassing Lakshmi Sahgal.

He was nominated by the NDA government that was in power but was backed fully by the opposition as well.

His term lasted from 25 July 2002 to 25 July 2007.

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1954) and Zakir Hussain (1963) were the first two Bharat Ratna holders who later held the office of President of India. Dr. Kalam was the third President of India to get the award before taking office.

During his term, he was affectionately known as ‘People’s President” for his involvement with common people.

He was criticized for his inaction in deciding 20 out of 21 mercy petitions submitted to him. Most famous of which was from Afzal Guru, a terrorist.

Life after presidency

Upon returning to civilian life, Kalam remained committed to using science and technology to transform India into a developed country and served as a lecturer at several universities

• visiting professor at the Indian Institutes of Management in Shillong, Ahmedabad, and Indore;
• an honorary fellow at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore;
• the chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology in Thiruvananthapuram;
• a professor of aerospace engineering at Anna University; and
• an adjunct professor at numerous other academic and research institutions nationwide.
• He taught technology at Banaras Hindu University and Anna University as well as information technology at the International Institute of Information Technology in Hyderabad.

Honors and legacy of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

Dr. Kalam received 7 honorary doctorates from 40 universities.

The Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan in 1981 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1990 for his work with ISRO and DRDO and his role as a scientific advisor to the Government.

In 1997, Kalam received India’s highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, for his contribution to scientific research and the modernization of defence technology in India.

In 2013, he was the recipient of the Von Braun Award from the National Space Society “to recognize excellence in the management and leadership of a space-related project”.

Several educational institutes and fellowships have been named in honor of him.

Wheeler Island, a national missile test site in Odisha, was renamed Abdul Kalam Island in September 2015.

Dr. Kalam wrote several books and numerous books were written on him as well. The most famous and inspiring works by him were:

• India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium  by A P J Abdul Kalam, Y. S. Rajan.
• Wings of Fire: An Autobiography  by A P J Abdul Kalam, Arun Tiwari.
• Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India  by A P J Abdul Kalam.

On 27 July 2015, Dr. Kalam traveled to Shillong to deliver a lecture on “Creating a Livable Planet Earth” at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong.

He died of cardiac arrest while delivering a lecture to the students.

He was a born leader, scientist, and above all a teacher who was enthusiastic about interacting with students and youth as he called them the future of the nation. He inspired many people and was liked and cherished by one and all equally.

He lived a life of a bachelor and plain simplicity. He was noted for his integrity and professionalism. Religion and spirituality were very important to Dr. Kalam throughout his life. He made his spiritual journey the subject of his final book, Transcendence: My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji .

He did not accumulate any personal belongings during his lifetime other than numerous books and a veena which he enjoyed playing.

Famous quotes by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

“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.”

“Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action.”

“All of us do not have equal talent. But, all of us have an equal opportunity to develop our talents.”

“Failure will never overtake me if my definition of succeeding is strong enough.”

Previous year questions

“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.” – A.P.J. Abdul Kalam  (2019)

“If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel that there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are father, mother, and teacher.” – A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (2022)

-Article written by Swathi Satish

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GS-III: Science & Technology

Prelims : General Science

Mains : Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology.

Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, commonly known as Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, was an iconic Indian scientist, aerospace engineer, and visionary leader. Abdul Kalam served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007 and is widely celebrated as the "People's President" for his immense contributions to science, technology, and the socio-economic development of India. He played a pivotal role in the development of India's ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology.

APJ Abdul Kalam - Background

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, born on October 15, 1931, in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, was an exemplary scientist, statesman, and teacher who played a pivotal role in shaping India's nuclear capabilities, missile technology, and the nation's space endeavours. Kalam breathed his last on July 27, 2015, while delivering a lecture at IIM-Shillong.

Early Life and Education

• Rameswaram roots: Dr. Kalam hailed from a modest background in Rameswaram. His father, Jainulabudeen, was a boat owner, and his mother, Ashiamma, was a housewife.
• APJ Kalam pursued a bachelor's degree in physics in 1954 fromTiruchirappalli.
• APJ Abdul Kalam received a degree in aeronautical engineering fromMadras Institute of Technology .

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam began a distinguished career that expertly combined science, technology, and defence, leaving an imprint on history.

• DRDO: Kalam began his career as a scientist at the Aeronautical Development Establishment of the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in 1960.
• After joining the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1969, Kalam oversaw the development of SLV-III , India's first satellite launch vehicle.
• Project Devil and Project Valiant aimed to create ballistic missiles using the SLV program's successful technology.
• In 1982, Kalam oversaw the development of several successful missiles, including the Agni and Prithvi missiles, earning him the title of "Missile Man of India. "
• He played a significant political and technological role during the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998.
• He was the first scientist- President of India, with no political background.

Contribution of APJ Abdul Kalam

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam's contributions spanned various domains, making him a symbol of India's scientific excellence and technological advancements.

Space Technology

• This achievement catapulted India into an exclusive club of space-exploring nations.
• PSLV: He was in charge of the evolution of ISRO 's launch vehicle programme, specifically the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) configuration .

Defence and Missile Technology

• Development of ballistic missiles: Kalam oversaw the projects Devil and Valiant, which aimed to develop ballistic missiles using the technology developed for the successful SLV programme.
• IGMDP: Dr. Kalam's leadership in the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) led to the development of the Agni, an intermediate-range ballistic missile and Prithvi, a surface-to-surface missile, reinforcing India's defence capabilities.
• Despite criticism, his unwavering pursuit of scientific excellence laid the groundwork for India's nuclear and space capabilities.
• It resulted in a significant reduction in the price of coronary stents , with a price reduction of more than 50% compared to when it was previously imported.
• Kalam-Raju Tablet: In 2012, Kalam and Soma Raju collaborated on the development of a rugged tablet computer for better healthcare administration in the country's rural areas. It was known as the Kalam-Raju tablet.'
• Literature: Aside from his scientific and political contributions, Kalam was an accomplished author, having written acclaimed books such as “Wings of Fire” , “My Journey”," Indomitable Spirit", “Ignited Minds” , India 2020 and many more, which continue to inspire generations.
• He worked to empower Indian youth and encourage them to take up careers in science and technology.
• Social justice: Kalam was also a champion of social justice and equality. He worked to improve the lives of marginalised and disadvantaged groups in India.
• Technology Vision 2020: As Chairman of the Technology Information, Forecasting, and Assessment Council and an eminent scientist, he led the country with the help of 500 experts to arrive at Technology Vision 2020, which provides a road map for India's transition from developing to developed status.

Awards and Honours received by Dr. Abdul Kalam 

Dr. Abdul Kalam's unparalleled contributions to S&T and his dedication to advancing the nation have earned him numerous accolades and recognitions.

• Von Braun Award from the National Space Society
• Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration
• Veer Savarkar Award
• Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan
• Bharat Ratna in 1997
• He received honorary doctorates from 30 universities and institutions.
• His birthday is celebrated as "Youth Renaissance Day" in Tamil Nadu 
• The new bacteria was discovered on the filters of the International Space Station by researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who named it Solibacillus Kalamii in honour of Abdul Kalam.
• Wheeler Island , a national missile test site in Odisha, was renamed Abdul Kalam Island.

PYQs on APJ Abdul Kalam

Question 1: "If a country is to be corruption-free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel that there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are father, mother and teacher." – A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (UPSC Mains 2022)

FAQs on APJ Abdul Kalam

Who was dr. apj abdul kalam.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was an accomplished scientist renowned for his contributions to science and technology, particularly in the fields of space technology and missile development. He served as the President of India from 2002 to 2007.

What was Abdul Kalam famous for?

For his contributions to the development of ballistic missile technology, he was famously known as the "Missile Man of India." Kalam served as the Prime Minister's Chief Scientific Adviser and DRDO Secretary from 1992 to 1999.

What are Dr. Kalam's notable achievements in the field of space technology?

Dr. Kalam's notable achievements in the field of space technology include the successful development of India's SLV-III and PSLV.

Why is Kalam called the Missile Man of India?

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, is known as the 'Missile Man of India' for his contribution to developing India's missile projects, the Prithvi and Agni missiles. He also played a significant role in developing the first indigenous satellite launch vehicle.

Where is Abdul Kalam Island located?

Abdul Kalam Island is located off the coast of Odisha. This island is home to the integrated missile test range. The island was originally named after the English Lieutenant Wheeler, but in September 2015, it was renamed after the former President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam.

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APJ Abdul Kalam Biography: Inventions, Achievements, Death Date, Quotes, Full Name, Education & other details

Apj abdul kalam death anniversary is being observed on july 27. know more about apj abdul kalam's  inventions, death date, achievements, education, early life, family and other details. .

APJ Abdul Kalam Biography: Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was an Indian aerospace scientist who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. He was born on October 15, 1931,  raised in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, and studied Physics and aerospace engineering. APJ Abdul Kalam was elected as the 11th President of India in 2002 with the support of both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the then opposition Indian National Congress party. Also referred to as ‘People’s President’, APJ Abdul Kalam returned to his civilian life of education, writing, and public service after serving only one term.

APJ Abdul Kalam Biography

Apj abdul kalam early life, education.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was born on October 15, 1981, to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage center of Rameswaram on Pamban Island. It was then in the Madras Presidency under British India and is now in the State of Tamil Nadu.

APJ Abdul Kalam’s father Jainulabdeen Marakayar was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque while his mother Ashiamma was a housewife. His father also owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.

APJ Abdul Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one sister in his family. His family had been wealthy Marakayar traders and landowners, with numerous properties and large tracts of land. With the opening of the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in 1914, however, the businesses failed and the family fortune and properties were lost over time, apart from the ancestral home.

APJ Abdul Kalam Education

Apj abdul kalam as a scientist.

After graduating from the Madras Institute of Technology in 1960, APJ Abdul Kalam joined the Aeronautical Development Establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as a scientist after becoming a member of the Defence Research and Development Service. He started his career by designing a small hovercraft, however, remained unconvinced by his job at DRDO.

In 1969, APJ Abdul Kalam was transferred to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) where he was the project director of India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle which successfully deployed the Rohini satellite in near-earth orbit in July 1980.

APJ Abdul Kalam was also invited by Raja Ramanna to witness the country’s first nuclear test, Smiling Buddha, as the representative of TBRL, even though he had not participated in its development.

Get here current GK and GK quiz questions in English and Hindi for India , World, Sports and Competitive exam preparation. Download the Jagran Josh Current Affairs App .

• What is the full form of APJ in APJ Abdul Kalam? + Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam is the full name of Dr. Kalam.
• Why is Dr. APJ Abdul kalam is known as the Missile Man of India? + APJ Abdul Kalam is known as the Missile Man of India for his work on the development of ballistic missiles and launch vehicle technology.
• Where was Dr. APJ Abdul kalam born? + Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was born on October 15, 1981 to a Tamil Muslim Family in the pilgrimage center of Rameswaram on Pamban Island.
• What are the other names given to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam? + APJ Abdul Kalam is also known as "People's President" and "Missile Man of India".
• Why is Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam famous? + Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam is the Indian scientist who played a leading role in the development of India's missile and nuclear weapon programs.
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10 Major Achievements of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (October 15, 1931 – July 27, 2015) , known as Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam , was an Indian scientist who served as the 11th President of India from July 25, 2002 to July 25, 2007 . Kalam started his career as a scientist for the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) designing India’s first indigenous hovercraft . He then moved to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) where, among other things, he supervised the successful launch of India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3) . He then returned to DRDO to lead the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) . Dr. Kalam served as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister and Secretary of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from July 1992 to December 1999 . During this period, he supervised the successful Pokhran-II explosions . For his immense contribution in the development of India, Dr Kalam received numerous awards during the course of his career including the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honor in India . Know more about the contributions of A. P. J. Abdul Kalam through his 10 major achievements.

#1 HE HELPED BUILD INDIA’S FIRST INDIGENOUS HOVERCRAFT

Abdul Kalam joined the Aeronautical Development Establishment of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) , right after graduating from the Madras Institute of Technology in 1960 . As a young scientist, he was assigned his first project to design and develop a hovercraft for the country’s defence applications. A hovercraft is an amphibious craft capable of travelling over land, water, mud, ice and other surfaces. After days of hard-work, Kalam and his team were successful in developing India’s first indigenous hovercraft which was named Nandi , the impressive white bull who acts as the vehicle of the Hindu deity Lord Shiva. Project Nandi received massive applause from the then Defense Minister, V.K Krishna Menon, and encouraged Kalam for his future endeavours. However, Project Nandi was shelved as the new government in power didn’t show any interest in the invention.

#2 HE WAS PART OF THE TEAM WHICH SET UP TERLS

Though Project Nandi was put in cold storage, due to it Kalam got a call from the Indian Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) to attend an interview at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) . At the time, INCOSPAR was formed out of the TIFR talent pool. Among the members of the selection panel who interviewed Kalam was Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian Space Programme and the founder of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) . Dr. Sarabhai took a deep interest in Kalam and selected him as a rocket engineer in INCOSPAR. The team of rocket engineers of which Kalam was a part, set up the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in 1963 . TERLS is used by ISRO to launch sounding rockets even today .

#3 KALAM WAS THE PROJECT DIRECTOR OF INDIA’S FIRST SLV

In 1969, when INCOSPAR led to the birth of the ISRO, Kalam was transferred there and was initially involved in research about building rockets. In the early 1970s, ISRO introduced its own Satellite Launch Vehicle program owing to geopolitical and economic considerations. It was a program to develop the technology needed to launch satellites . Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was made the project director of the program. Beginning with mechanical designing to electrical integration , Kalam single-handedly supervised every aspect of the project , which was a massive success . On July 18, 1980, Satellite Launch Vehicle-3 (SLV-3) was successfully launched from Sriharikota range in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh . It deployed the Rohini satellite in near-earth orbit . It was the first successful satellite launch that took place on Indian soil and thereby made India the seventh member of an exclusive club of space-faring nations in international society.

#4 HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF AGNI AND PRITHVI MISSILES

After the huge triumph of SLV-III and dedicating the paramount years of his life to ISRO, Dr. Kalam was issued transfer orders to DRDO, where he was given the responsibility to lead the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) . According to the instructions of then Defence Minister R. Venkataraman , four missiles were to be developed simultaneously as part of the program. After years of consistent hard work and immense dedication, India got her first range of ballistic missiles , the Prithvi , the Agni , the Aakash , and the Nag . Out of the four, two missiles, namely, Prithvi, the tactical surface-to-surface missile; and Agni, an intermediate-range ballistic missile; were launched successfully . Due to this mammoth achievement under his leadership, India became a major military power and Dr Kalam became popularly known as the “Missile Man of India”.

#5 HE SUPERVISED THE POKHRAN-II EXPLOSIONS AS THE CHIEF OF DRDO

Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam served as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister and Secretary of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from July 1992 to December 1999 . The Pokhran-II nuclear tests were conducted during this period and Kalam played an intensive political and technological role in their success . Along with Dr. R. Chidambaram, the Director of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) , he served as the chief coordinator in the planning of the tests . The Pokhran-II tests, a series of five nuclear bomb test explosions , were conducted at the Indian Army’s Pokhran Test Range in May 1998 . The tests achieved their main objective of giving India the capability to build fission and thermonuclear weapons with yields up to 200 Kilotons . Exclusive media coverage during the event, made Kalam a household name in India and he became the best known nuclear scientist in the nation.

#6 HE SERVED AS THE FIRST PRINCIPAL SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

After his retirement from DRDO, Kalam was appointed as the first-ever Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government Of India from November 1999 to November 2001 . Principal Scientific Advisor was a Cabinet rank position at the time and was largely created to assist scientific cross-sectoral synergy across ministries, institutions and the industry . During his service period, Dr. Kalam supervised committees making master plans regarding defence, agriculture, healthcare and information technology . Under this esteemed post, he was also responsible for evolving policies, strategies and missions for many developmental applications .

#7 HE SERVED AS THE 11TH PRESIDENT OF INDIA

On June 10, 2002, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) , the then ruling party expressed their will to nominate Dr. Kalam for the post of President. On June 18 , Kalam filed his nomination papers in the Indian Parliament. He went on to win the 2002 Indian presidential election with an electoral vote of 922,884 as compared to 107,366 votes won by Lakshmi Sahgal . Kalam was the first scientist to become the president of India. During his term as president, he was fondly called the People’s President because of his humility, integrity, vision; and his immense contribution to inspire and nurture the young minds of the nation. Dr. Kalam’s guidelines under the scheme of “Vision of 2020” to make India a developed country has been incorporated under plans of the Indian Government . After the expiry of his term and his unwillingness to contest the election for the second term, Pratibha Patil became his successor as the 12th president of India. Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam served as the 11th President of India from July 25, 2002 to July 25, 2007.

#8 HE SERVED IN VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL CAPACITIES POST PRESIDENCY

After leaving office, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam opted to pursue the field of academics and delved deep into it. In one such pursuit, he joined the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong , IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Indore as a visiting faculty . Dr. Kalam was also conferred with the honorary fellowship by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore on the occasion of completing its 100 years. Kalam became the chancellor of the reputed Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) in Thiruvananthapuram. IIST functions under the Department of Space, Government of India and is dedicated to the study and research of outer space . Moreover, Kalam served as professor of Aerospace Engineering at Anna University ; taught information technology at the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad ; and taught technology at Banaras Hindu University . Apart from his academic ventures, he initiated a youth-centric program mass movement called “What Can I Give Movement” in 2012 with the main agenda to triumph over corruption and to create a compassionate society .

#9 HE WROTE THE BESTSELLER WINGS OF FIRE

Dr Kalam had always encouraged the young population of India to develop the habit of reading and he penned down many inspirational books that always carried a message for his countrymen and addressed burning issues relevant to India. Some of his notable masterpieces are India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium (1998); Wings of Fire: An Autobiography of A P J Abdul Kalam (1999); Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India (2002); and Target 3 Billion (2011) . Among these, Wings of Fire and Ignited Minds have been bestsellers . Wings Of Fire recount the journey of Kalam from an extremely humble background to becoming the President of India through optimism and hard work. The autobiography was first published in English; and has so far been translated and published in 13 languages including Chinese and French. Ignited Minds delves into the obstacles that are preventing India from rising up to the challenge of development.

#10 HE WAS AWARDED THE BHARAT RATNA IN 1997

Dr Kalam was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1981 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1990 by the Government of India . These are the third highest and the second highest civilian awards in India respectively. He received the Padma Bhushan after the successful launch of SLV-III ; while he received the Padma Vibhushan after the successful completion of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme . In 1997 , Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam received India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, for his contribution to the scientific research and modernization of defence technology in India . Kalam has received numerous other honours including Veer Savarkar Award (1998); Ramanujan Award (2000); King Charles II Medal (2007); International von Kármán Wings Award (2009); Hoover Medal (2009); and Von Braun Award (2013) . Moreover, he has received 7 honorary doctorates from 40 universities . Apart from these prestigious accolades, in 2010, the United Nations declared October 15 as World Students’ Day to commemorate the birthday Dr. Kalam.

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