“Dreams are not those which are seen in sleep, dreams are those which do not let you sleep”, After hearing this an image is created in our mind of a great scientist, former President and missile man of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
APJ Abdul Kalam was one of the Indian greatest personalities. People from children to old generation remember him with proud and respect. Dr Kalam was not only a great scientist and leader, but also a true representative of Indian value system. He used to fulfil his responsibility and duty with full of honesty and kept India before himself.
Dr Kalam biggest dream was to see India as a global power, for which he spent his whole life trying to fulfil. APJ Abdul Kalam was awarded with many prestigious awards by Indian government for his contribution in science & technology and service in Indian government. Padma Vibhushan (1990) and Bharat Ratan (1997) was among of them.
His story is full of inspiration. From selling newspapers to becoming India’s president and one of the greatest scientists of the world, Dr Kalam’s story is all about hard work.
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Childhood and early life:
Dr Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 in a Tamil Nadu Muslim family in Rameswaram. his full name was Abul pakir jainulabdin Abdul Kalam. His father was a boat owner, and his mother was housewife. His father used to take Hindu pilgrims to Dhanush Kodi of Rameswaram in his boat. Dr Kalam was brought up with his four siblings in a humble circumstance. Dr Kalam used to sale newspaper to support his family.
In the beginning Dr Kalam was an average student but the curiosity to know and learn everything was full of codification in him. He spent most of his time with books and had a special interest in mathematics. He completed his 12th from Schwartz higher secondary school and higher education from saint Joseph’s college of Tiruchirappalli.
Dr Kalam tales in one of his interviews that: – when he was in Rameswaram, he did not know much about higher education and what could be done for it. After completing his BSc in physics, Kalam realised that to fulfil his dreams he must do engineering and took admission in Madras institute of technology for engineering.
In his book “my journey: transforming dream into actions”, Dr Kalam mentions that he wanted to become a fighter pilot. He was very fond of flying plans since childhood. But something else was written in his fate. Kalam clears written exam successfully but due to fail in SSB interview he does not join Air force.
Career as a scientist: –
After completed graduation in 1960 from MIT, Kalam joined aeronautical development establishment of defence research and development organisation and started his career by making a small hover craft for Indian army. Kalam got a chance to work with Dr Vikram Sarabhai as a member of INSCOPAR. In 1969 Kalam was transferred as a project director in ISRO. In ISRO he worked on the project of India’s first satellite launch vehicle (SLV-3).
SLV-3 deployed Rohini satellite in lower Earth orbit successful in 1980 and India become the sixth member of exclusive club of space faring Nations.
In 1965, when Kalam was member of DRDO, he started work on expendable rocket project. After becoming a member of ISRO Government of India approved his project and other engineers also joined this project.
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In the next time Dr Kalam worked on polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) and SLV 3 projects, which was majorly successful. He played a key role in development of Prithvi missile. In 1982 Dr Kalam re-joined DRDO and planned missile program, due to which many successful missiles were produced, and he came to be known as the missile man of India.
Agni missile, India’s first intermediate range ballistic missile launched in 1989, was one of successful missiles. Dr Kalam was scientific advisor of defence minister of India during 1992 1997.he also served the Government of India as principal scientific advisor while holding the post of cabinet minister from 1989 to 2001. Dr Kalam played important role in Pokhran-|| nuclear test of 1998. During testing phase of Pokhran-||, Dr Kalam served as chief project coordinator with Rajagopala Chidambaram.
The people’s president
On 18th July 2002, Dr Kalam was elected as 11th president of India and served by 2007. Kalam was different from all the other presidents of India. His simplicity and affection for the general public made him different from all the other people holding higher offices. Dr Kalam was very polite with people and very courageous in implementing decisions, no matter how tough, sensitive and even controversial dead decision. Today people remember him fondly people’s president.
After leaving president office, Dr Kalam engaged in his mission to transform India using science & technology and served as a lecturer in many universities of the country.
Death
On 27th July 2015, Dr Kalam died due to cardiac arrest while delivering lecture in IIM Shillong. He was created on 30th July 2015 near his birthplace in Rameswaram. Kalam’s sudden death shocked the entire nation. The country suffered an irreparable loss when kalam died.
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