A.J.P Abdul Kalam-The Missile Man of India

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to 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. His father Jainulabdeen Marakayar was a boat owner and Imam of a local mosque. His mother Ashiamma was a home-maker. Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one sister in his family. In school years, Kalam had average grades but was described a s bright and hardworking student who had a strong desire to learn. He spent hours on his studies, especially mathematics. After completing his education at the Schwartz Higher Secondary School, Ramanathapuram, Kalam went on to attend Saint Joseph’s College Thiruchirapalli, then affiliated with the University of Madras, from he graduated in physics in 1954. He moved to Madras in 1955 to study aerospace engineering in Madras Institute of Technology. While Kalam working on a senior class project, the Dean was dissatisfied with his lack of progress and threatened to revoke his scholarship unless the project was finished within next three days, Kalam met the deadline, impressing the Dean, who later said to him “I was putting you under stress and asking you to meet a difficult deadline”. He narrowly missed achieving his dream of becoming a fighter pilot, as he placed ninth in qualifiers, and only eight positions were available in the IAF (Indian Air Force).\

Career

After graduating from the Madras Institue of Technology in 1960. Kalam joined the Aeronautical Development Establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, as a scientist after becoming a member of the Defense Research and Development Service. He started his career by designing a small hovercraft, but remained unconvinced by his choice of a job at DRDO. In 1969, Kalam was transferred to the Indian Space Research Organisation where he was the project director of India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III), which successfully deployed the Rohini satellite in near-earth orbit in July 1980. Kalam project independently at DRDO in 1965. In 1969, Kalam received the government’s approval and expanded the programme to include more engineers. Kalam played a major part in developing many missile under the mission and Prithvi, the tactical surface-to-surface missile, although the projects have been criticized for mismanagement and cost and time overruns. Kalam served as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister and Secretary of the Defence Research and Development Organisation from July 1992 to December 1999. The Pokhran-II nuclear tests were conducted during this period in which he played and intensive political and technological role. Kalam served as the Cheif Project Coordinator, along with Rajagopala Chidambaram, during the testing phase. Media coverage of Kalam during this period made him the country’s best known nuclear scientist. However, the director of the site test K.Santhanam, said that the thermonuclear bomb had been a fizzle and criticized Kalam for issuing an incorrect report. Both Kalam and Chidambaram dismissed the cliams.

This is my first stage in which I learnt leadership from three great teachers-Dr.Vikram Sarabhai, Prof Sathish Dhawan and Dr.Brahm Prakash. This was the time of learning and acquisition of knowledge for me.-A.P.J Abdul Kalam

Presidency

Kalam served as the 11th President of India, succeeding K.R. Narayan. He won the 2002 presidential election with an electoral vote, surpassing the votes won by Lakshmi Sahgal. His team lasted from July 25 2002 to July 25 2007. During his term as president, he was affectionately known as the People’s President saying that signing the Office of Profit Bill was the toughest decision he had taken during his tenure.

Awards

  • 1981-Padma Bhushan-Government of India
  • 1990-Padma Vibhushan-Government of India
  • 1997-Bharat Ratna-Government of India
  • 1997-Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration-Government of India
  • 1998-Veer Savarkar Award-Government of India
  • 2000-SASTRA Ramanujan Prize-Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy, India
  • 2013-Von Braun Award-National Space Society.

Death

On 27 July 2915, Kalam travelled to Shilliong to deliver a lecture on Creating a Livable Planet Earth at the Indian Institute of Management Shilliong. While climbling a flight of stairs, he experienced some discomfort, but was able to enter the auditorium after a brief rest. At around 6.35 p.m, only five minutes into his lectures, he collapsed. He was rushed to the nearly Bethany Hospital in a critical condition, upon arrival, he lacked a pulse or any other signs of life. Despite being placed in the intensive care unit, Kalam was confirmed dead of a sudden cardiac arrest at 7.45 p.m IST. His last words, to his aide Srijan Pal Singh, were reportedly ‘Funny guy” are you doing well.

Inspirational words

Don’t take rest after your victory because if you fail in second, more lips are waiting to say that your first victory was just luck.

Never give up your dreams no matter how old you are no matter where you are today. Do not give up dreaming for a better tomorrow.