Tuesday, 28 July 2015
Little did
Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma know that their son would grow up to be the first
citizen of India.
An Indian scientist and administrator, Kalam
served as the 11th President of India from 2002 until 2007. One amongst the
most respected people of the country, Kalam contributed immensely both as a
scientist and as a president. His contribution at the Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO) was immense. He was responsible for numerous projects such
as Project Devil and Project Valiant and launch of the Rohini-1, besides
developing missiles under the missions Agni and Prithvi. For the same, he was
popularly tagged as the “Missile Man of India”. Kalam was honored with great
laurels and awards for his work by both the Government of India and other
countries. After completing his term as President, Kalam served as a visiting
professor in various esteemed institutes and universities of India.
Childhood & Early
Life
A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam was born to Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma on October 15, 1931. He came
from a family whose financial conditions weren’t sound enough. As a means to
support his family’s meagre income, Kalam took up odd jobs in his childhood but
never gave up on his education.
He graduated from Saint Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli in 1954
but not satisfied with his degree, he left for Madras later next year to study
aerospace engineering. He enrolled at the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT)
Career
After
graduating from MIT, Kalam took up the position of chief scientist at the
Aeronautical Development Establishment of Defense Research and Development
Organization (DRDO). However, the profile didn’t appeal Kalam much who shifted
to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) where he was the project
director of India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle.
His
years at the ISRO were the most crucial ones, as they left a lasting impact on
him. Kalam lead many projects and turned out to be successful each time.
In
the 1970s, Kalam directed two projects, namely, Project Devil and Project
Valiant, which sought to develop ballistic missiles from the technology of the
successful SLV programme.
A
milestone was achieved when locally built Rohini-1 was launched into space,
using the SLV rocket. Upon watching the raving success of Kalam, the government
agreed for initiation of an advanced missile program under his directorship. He
played a pivotal role in developing missiles under the missions Agni and Prithvi.
Kalam
was the Chief Executive of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program
(I.G.M.D.P) which researched in simultaneous development of a quiver of
missiles instead of taking planned missiles one by one.
From
1992 until 1999, Kalam was appointed as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the
Prime Minister and the Secretary of Defence Research and Development
Organisation. It was during this time that Kalam served as the Chief Project
Coordinator for Pokhran II nuclear tests, after which he was fondly called the
“Missile Man of India”.
Kalam
succeeded K. R. Narayan to serve as the 11th President of India from 2002 until
2007. It was a highly one-sided contest. With his appointment, Kalam became the
first scientist and first ever bachelor to occupy the Rastrapati Bhawan.
During
his tenure as a President, Kalam was both appreciated and criticised. The
latter was mostly due to his inaction in deciding the fate of 20 mercy
petitioners. EDIT
In
addition to all the profiles that Dr Kalam held, he authored numerous
influential and inspirational books. Amongst all his books, “India 2020” was
the widely read and appreciated one. It forecast an action plan which advocated
India turning into a knowledge superpower and as one of the developed nations
of the world by the year 2020. His other books include, “Ignited Minds”,
“Mission India”, “Inspiring Thoughts” and “The Luminous Sparks”.
In
2011, he launched his mission for the youth of the nation called the “What Can
I Give Movement” with the main aim to defeat corruption in India.
After
completing his term as President, Dr Kalam served as visiting professor in
various esteemed institutes and universities of India, such as Indian Institute
of Management Ahmedabad and Indore. He also served as Chancellor of Indian Institute
of Space Science and Technology Thiruvananthapuram, Aerospace Engineering at
Anna University (Chennai), JSS University (Mysore).
Awards & Achievements
Kalam
was the proud recipient of Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna
awards from the Government of India. He received the same in the years 1981,
1990 and 1997, respectively.
In
1997, he was honored by the Government of India with the Indira Gandhi Award
for National Integration.
Later,
the next year, he was awarded the Veer Savarkar Award by the Government of
India.
The
Alwars Research Centre, Chennai, bestowed Kalam with Ramanujan Award in the
year 2000.
Kalam
was honored with the King Charles II Medal by the Royal Society, U.K in 2007.
The
California Institute of Technology, U.S.A, presented Kalam with the
International von Karman Wings Award in the year 2009. The same year, he won
the Hoover Medal by ASME Foundation, USA.
The
IEEE honored Kalam with IEEE Honorary Membership in 2011.
Kalam
was the proud recipient of honorary doctorates from 40 universities.
In
addition to this, Kalam's 79th birthday was recognised as World Students' Day
by United Nations.
He
was nominated for the MTV Youth Icon of the Year award in 2003 and in 2006.
Personal Life
Dr
A.P.J. Kalam remained unmarried throughout his life.
Dr
Abdul Kalam passed away at Bethany Hospital, Shillong, Meghalaya, due to heart
failure after having collapsed during a lecture at Indian Institute of
Management, Shillong.
