2. CONTENTS
1. Dr Kalam’s Life Journey
2. Political Views
3. Personal Life
4. The King of Many Firsts
5. Interesting facts about Dr Kalam
6. Awards and Honors
7. Books by Dr Kalam
8. Inspiring thoughts by Dr Kalam
4. Dr. Kalam was born at Rameswaram inDhanushkodi,
Tamil Nadu, to a working class Tamil Muslim family.
He received his degree in aeronautical engineering
from the Madras Institute of Technology in 1958.
Father-Jainulabdeen, Mother-Ashiamma.
Specialized in Aero Engineering from Madras
Institute of Technology.
He initially worked in DRDO in 1958 and then joined
ISRO in 1963.
5. Dr Kalam has made significant contribution to Indian
satellite and launch vehicles of ISRO and also in the
missile programme of DRDO.
He was responsible for the evolution of ISRO's
launch vehicles programme and configurations.
He rejoined DRDO in 1982 and conceived the
Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme
(IGMDP) for indigenous missiles.
6. He was Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister and
Secretary, Department of Defence Research &
Development from July 1992 to December 1999.
As Chairman, Technology Information, Forecasting
and Assessment Council (TIFAC), he generated the
Technology Vision 2020 documents.
Dr. Kalam has served as the Principal Scientific
Advisor to the Government of India, in the rank of
Cabinet Minister, from November 1999 to November
2001.
7. He planned a program that produced a number of
successful missiles, helping him earn the nickname
"Missile Man”.
His work led to the successful Pokhran-II nuclear
tests in 1998, which reiterated India’s position as a
nuclear weapon state.
8. In the words himself:
“Do not look at Agni as an entity directed upwards to
deter the ominous or exhibit your might. It is fire in
the heart of an Indian. Do not even give it the form of
a missile as it clings to the burning pride of this
nation and thus isbright.”
9. In 2002 Kalam was nominated to succeed outgoing
President K.R. Narayanan.
Kalam easily won the elections in 2002 and
continued up to 2007.
Kalam sought the ways of science and technology
to transform India into a developed country. He is
considered a leading progressive, mentor, innovator
and visionary in India.
10.
11. His book "India 2020" strongly advocates an action
plan to develop India into a knowledge superpower
and into a developed nation by the year 2020.
Kalam is credited with the view that India ought to
take a more assertive stance in international
relations.
he regards his work on India's nuclear weapons
program as a way to assert India's place as a future
superpower.
12. Kalam's belief in the power of technology to resolve
society's problems and his views of these problems
as a result of inefficient distribution of resources is
modernistic.
He also sees science and technology as ideology-
free areas and emphasizes the cultivation of
scientific temper and entrepreneurial drive.
In this, he finds a lot of support among India's new
business leaders like the founders of Infosys and
Wipro, who began their careers as technology
professionals much in the same way Kalam did.
14. Kalam observes strict personal discipline, practicing
vegetarianism, teetotalism and celibacy.
Kalam is a scholar of Tirukkural; in most of his
speeches, he quotes at least one kural.
Kalam has written several inspirational books, most
notably his autobiography Wings of Fire, aimed at
motivating Indian youth.
Most of his books, reveals his spiritual side.
15. It has been reported that there is considerable
demand in South Korea for translated versions
of books authored by him.
He is an idol for all, including children.
17. In April 2004, Kalam took his lectures to the
world's highest battlefield - the Siachen glacier.
The one-time missile man of India braved the
chill and spent time interacting with the troops.
18. On June 8, 2006- He created history by
becoming the first president to undertake a
sortie in a fighter aircraft, a Sukhoi-30 MKI, from
Lohegaon airbase. As a 74-year old, he
created a record by becoming the oldest Indian
co-pilot to do so.
As President, he donated his income from his
first 10 months in office to the NGO created and
managed by Mata Amritanandamayi.
19.
20. Kalam begins his day by reading from the Bhagwad
Gita.
Kalam is leading a remarkable ascetic life.
He works for about 18 hours each day.
He plays the 'Rudra Veena'.
Took leave just twice, when his parents died.
He is a self-confessed 'Ram Bhakt'.
22. Ramanujan Award by Alwars Research Centre, Chennai
(2000)
Padma Vibhushan (1990)
Veer Savarkar Award (1998)
Bharat Ratna (1997)
Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration (1997)
Prof Y Nayudamma Memorial Gold Medal (1996)
GM Modi Award for Science (1996)
23. HK Firodia Award for Excellence in S&T (1996)
Padma Bhushan in (1981)
National Nehru Award by the Government of MP
Kalam has the unique distinction of having received
honorary doctorates from at least thirty universities.
As a sign of his popularity among Indian youth, MTV-
India recently nominated him as one of the prospects
for its MTV India Youth Icon for the year 2006
Award.
25. Wings of Fire: An Autobiography of APJAbdul Kalam
by A.P.J Abdul Kalam, Arun Tiwari.
India 2020: AVision for the New Millennium byA.P.J.
Abdul Kalam, Y.S. Rajan.
India-my-dream by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Envisioning an Empowered Nation: Technologyfor
Societal Transformation by A.P.J.Abdul Kalam.
27. "Thinking should become your capital asset, no matter
whatever ups and downs you come across in your life.”
"When you speak, speak the truth; perform when you
promise; discharge your trust.... Withhold your hands
from striking, and from taking that which is unlawful and
bad..."
Aleader can only be free to leadhis team when he keepsa
burst of all happening around him in real time
To succeed in your mission, you must have single minded
commitment. Total commitment is the common
denominator among all successful men and women.
