Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was an Indian scientist and politician who served as the 11th President of India. Some key facts about him include that he began his career as a scientist at DRDO where he helped design a small helicopter for the Indian Army. He also witnessed India's first nuclear test. As President, some criticized him for not acting on many mercy petitions. Later in life, he was harassed at an airport in the US and became known for writing many inspirational books. He received India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna.

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10 facts about
Dr. A.P.J Abdul
Kalam

2. Fact 1
Kalam as a scientist in DRDO
Kalam joined Aeronautical Development Establishment of
Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO)
as a scientist. His first achievement in his career was
designing a small helicopter for the Indian Army, though
he remained unconvinced and dissatisfied with the choice
of his job at DRDO.
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3. Fact 2
Kalam was a part of country’s first nuclear test
Kalam without participating in its development, test
site preparation and weapon designing was invited by
Raja Ramanna to witness the country’s first nuclear
test Smiling Buddha as the representative of TBRL.
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4. Fact 3
Kalam was criticized for lackadaisical approach towards
his Presidential post
Kalam was judged for inaction as a President in deciding
the fate of 20 out of the 21 mercy petitions. According to
the Article 72, of the Constitution of India, the President
of India has the power to grant pardon, suspend and
remit death sentences and commute the death sentence
of convicts on death row. But he didn’t apply those
powers on the mercy petitions of the 20 convicts.
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5. Fact 4
His harassment at New York airport
The most insulting day for every Indians when former
President APJ Abdul Kalam was twice subjected to
harassment at New York’s JFK Airport by the US security
officers. Dr Kalam was forced to take his jacket and shoes off
for security checking for explosives. Then the 80-year-old
Kalam was in the United States in September to attend a
series of events and the incident took place on September 29
at the time of his returning home from New York. After
taking his seat in the aircraft, officials of the JFK Airport came
inside and asked to check the President once again. Air India
authorities along with all the Indians strongly protested the
heinous act.
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6. Fact 5
Kalam the stalwart
Most of us don’t know that Dr. Kalam is an incredible writer
and has written many inspirational books. They are-Wings
of fire [His autobiography], 2020- A Vision for the New
Millennium, Envisioning an Empowered Nation, Ignited
Minds, My Journey, Developments in Fluid Mechanics and
Space Technology, The Luminous Sparks, The Life Tree,
Mission India, Children Ask Kalam, Guiding Souls,
Indomitable Spirit and Inspiring Thoughts. These books are
treasure for every Indians.
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7. Fact 6
Pokhran-II tests controversy
The controversy that hovered around Kalam’s role as a
nuclear scientist is the lack of reliable and factual
reporting of the yield of Pokhran-II tests. K. Santhanam,
the director of the site test, publicly declared that the
thermonuclear bomb was a “fizzle” test, and criticized
Kalam for issuing the wrong report. But Kalam dismissed
the claims and, a key associate of Pokhran-II, R.
Chidambaram also certify these claims as incorrect.
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8. Fact 7
Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant issue
Kalam was also disparaged by civil groups over his stand
on the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant, where he
encouraged setting up of the nuclear power plant
without discussing the situation with the local people.
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9. Fact 8
The Youth Icon
In 2003 and in 2006 he was nominated for the MTV
Youth Icon of the Year award.
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10. Fact 9
Part of an inspirational film
I Am Kalam which was released in 2011 is an inspirational
Hindi film. Here Kalam is portrayed as an extremely positive
influence to a poor but bright Rajasthani boy Chhotu, who
renames himself Kalam in honour of his idol.
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11. Fact 10
The awards and honors
The Government of India has honoured him with
the Padma Bhushanin 1981 and the Padma Vibhushan in
1990 for his work with ISRO and DRDO and his role as a
scientific advisor to the Government. APJ Abdul
Kalam has received India’s highest civilian honour,
the Bharat Ratna, for his immensely precious contribution
to the scientific research and modernization of defense
technology in India.
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