A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: Inspiring Life Journey of India’s Missile Man.
INTRODUCTION
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, known as the “Missile Man of India,” was a visionary scientist, an esteemed statesman, and one of the most beloved figures in Indian history. Dr. Abdul Kalam was an Indian scientist and statesman who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. He was Born on October 15, 1931, in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadunl and passed away on July 27, 2015, in Shillong, Meghalaya, India. Dr. Kalam rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most influential personalities of his time. He left an indelible mark on the fields of science, technology, and politics, and his contributions continue to inspire generations across the globe.
Early life
AvulPakirJainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on October 15, 1931, in Rameswaram, a pilgrimage centre on Pamban Island in the Madras Presidency, which is now part of the state of Tamil Nadu. He was born into a Tamil Muslim family. His father, Jainulabdeen, was a boat owner and the imam of a local mosque, while his mother, Ashiamma, was a housewife. The family had a ferry service that transported Hindu pilgrims between Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi, an uninhabited area at the time. Kalam was the youngest among his four brothers and one sister. His ancestors had a prosperous background as wealthy traders and landowners, engaging in grocery trading between the mainland, the island, and Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims. As a result, they were known as “Mara KalamIyakkivar” or “wooden boat steerers,” but the family’s fortunes declined when the Pamban Bridge was built in 1914, leading to the loss of their businesses and properties over time, except for their ancestral home.Due to the family’s financial difficulties, Kalam had a modest upbringing. To help support his family, he sold newspapers during his early childhood. Despite having average grades in school, Kalam was known as a diligent and bright student with a strong inclination towards learning. He devoted many hours to studying, particularly mathematics. After completing his education at Schwartz Higher Secondary School in Ramanathapuram, Kalam pursued a degree in physics at Saint Joseph’s College in Tiruchirappalli, affiliated with the University of Madras. He graduated in 1954. Following that, Kalam moved to Madras (now Chennai) in 1955 to pursue aerospace engineering at the Madras Institute of Technology.
During his time at the institute, Kalam faced a challenging situation when his senior class project progress was unsatisfactory, and the Dean threatened to revoke his scholarship. Determined to succeed, Kalam met the deadline and impressed the Dean, who acknowledged the pressure he had placed on him, saying, “I was putting you under stress and asking you to meet a difficult deadline.”Although Kalam aspired to become a fighter pilot, he narrowly missed achieving his dream by placing ninth in the qualifiers, while there were only eight available positions in the Indian Air Force. Following graduation, he worked as a scientist for the “Defense Research Service” and the “Aeronautical Development Establishment.”
Dr. Kalam career
After completing his graduation in 1960, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam joined the Aeronautical Development Establishment of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) as a scientist. He collaborated with renowned scientist Vikram Sarabhai as part of the committee of INCOSPAR (National Committee of India). In his early career, he designed a small hovercraft and a helicopter for the Indian Army. In 1963 and 1964, he visited several prestigious research centers in the United States, including the Defense Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Efficiency, and NASA’s Langley Research Center.
In 1965, Dr. Kalam started working independently on an expandable rocket project at DRDO. However, he was not completely satisfied with his work there and eagerly accepted a transfer to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1969. At ISRO, he served as the Project Director of SLV-III. In July 1980, his team successfully launched the Rohini satellite into Earth’s orbit, marking India’s first indigenously designed and built satellite launch vehicle. In 1969, Abdul Kalam received government approval to expand the program and involve more engineers. During the 1970s, he focused on developing the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) to enable India to launch its Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite into Sun-Synchronous orbit. The PSLV project was successful and made its first launch on 20 September 1993.
Dr. Kalam’s efforts from the 1970s to the 1990s in the development of SLV-3 and Polar SLV, as well as his direction of Project Valiant and Project Devil, aimed at developing ballistic missiles based on SLV technology, were highly successful. In the early 1980s, the Indian Defense Ministry, in collaboration with DRDO and other government organizations, launched the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP). Abdul Kalam was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of IGMDP upon his return to DRDO. Under his leadership, the program successfully developed missiles such as the Prithvi missile in 1988 and the Agni missile in 1989. Due to his significant contributions, he earned the moniker “Missile Man of India.” Additionally, from July 1992 to December 1999, he served as the Secretary of the Defense Research and Development Organization and was the Chief Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister. During this period, Dr. Kalam played a crucial role, both technically and politically, in the Pokhran II nuclear test. The then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, declared India a full-fledged nuclear state. In an interesting development, in 1998, Abdul Kalam, along with cardiologist Dr Soma Raju, developed a low-cost coronary stent. This innovative medical device was later named the “Kalam-Raju Stent.” Furthermore, they also designed a tablet PC for healthcare use in rural areas, which was named the “Kalam-Raju Tablet.”
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s Presidency
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. His presidency marked a significant chapter in India’s history, characterized by his visionary leadership and commitment to national development. During his tenure, Dr. Kalam utilized his scientific background and intellectual prowess to inspire and engage with the people of India.
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam assumed the presidency with a resounding victory in the 2002 presidential election. Supported by the National Democratic Alliance, his nomination received endorsements from parties such as the Samajwadi Party and the National Congress Party. Throughout his tenure, Dr. Kalam earned the title of the “people’s President” due to his significant contributions to the welfare of the nation and its citizens. As President, Dr. Kalam demonstrated his courage and fearlessness in making and implementing tough decisions, even in the face of controversy. He was known for his unwavering commitment to upholding justice and maintaining the integrity of the office. Among the challenging decisions he had to make, one notable example was signing the “Office of profit” bill. The “office of profit” concept stems from the English Settlement Act of 1701, which restricts individuals with positions or arrangements associated with the royal family from working for the House of Commons. Dr. Kalam, aware of the significance of preventing any undue influence on administrative matters, had to navigate this complex issue and exercise his judgment in signing the bill. Throughout his presidency, Dr. Kalam remained dedicated to ensuring the well-being of the people and the country. He strived to foster transparency, inclusivity, and progress during his tenure. Dr. Kalam’s unwavering commitment to upholding democratic values and his tireless efforts in advancing India’s development made him a truly remarkable and respected President in the eyes of the people.
Read more: 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._P._J._Abdul_Kalam
2. Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “A.P.J. Abdul Kalam summary”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Jul. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/summary/A-P-J-Abdul-Kalam. Accessed 13 June 2023.