APJ Abdul Kalam was born in 1931 in Tamil Nadu in a poor family. He excelled in his studies and earned degrees in aerospace engineering. He had a distinguished career working for DRDO and ISRO, where he played a key role in developing important defense projects like India's first satellite launch vehicle and the Agni missile. For his scientific achievements, he received many honors including India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. In 2002, he became the 11th President of India and was widely respected for his humility and commitment to public service.

1. By-GAUTAM PARMAR

2.  Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam was born at Dhanushkodi in Tamilnadu’s
Rameswaram district in 1931 in a boatmaker’s family. But poverty
never stopped him from his desire to progress in life. There was a
time when Kalam had even to sell newspaper in the streets to cater
to his needs.
 A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had his schooling at (1)Rameswaram Panchayat
Elementary School and at (2) Schwartz School, Rameswaram. He did
his B.sc from St. Joseph’s college, Tiruchirapalli. After this ,Kalam
sought admission in Madras Institute of Technology abnd got
education in Aeronautical Engineering from there. This was the
turning point in his career as a scientist and was promoted to higher
posts.

3.  A.P.J. Abdul Kalam joined DRDO (Defence Research Development Organisation) in
1958 as an assistant scientist. Next he joined ISRO (Indian Space Research
Organisation). There he was attached to Directorate of Technical Development and
Production. There he was one of the key architects of SLV-3 Project fetched him
immense recognition. It also made him an integral part ISRO project. His team also
achieved success in completing mission of ‘Agni Missile’ in 1994. The people of India
became so enthusiastic that they christened A.P.J Abdul Kalam ‘THE MISSILE MAN’.
 Only four after ‘Missile Agni’ launch, he planned hydrogen bomb in 1998 at Pokhran.
It definitely brought India in the list of nuclear powers. As a result , his nuclear
experiments invariably changed the political position of India in the world.Abdul
Kalam’s four major milestones were-(1) His years at ISRO, (2) Agni’s meeting its
mission requirements in 1994, (3) The nuclear tests of 1998 and (4) Making callipers of
Medical Sciences, Hyderabad. Considering his high achievements, he had been
awarded ‘Padma Bhushan’ in 1983, ‘Padma Vibhushan’ in 1990 and ‘Bharat Ratna in
1997. In spite of his birth in Muslim family, he is a strict vegetarian and a teetotaller.
He is a staunch nationalist. As a matter of his religious practices, he says his prayers
(namaz) twice a day but never behaves like a fanatic.

4. He reads the Koran and the Bhagwat Gita
alongwith and is capable of quoting both of
them with equal ease and zeal. In a nutshell,
humanity and its service is his sole and
supreme religion. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is
avowedly a man of versatile personality. We
know him as a renowned scientist. He is also
a spiritual fellow. Besides, he is a good poet
who writes poems in Tamil. He is also a
famous writer. He has authored the book
titled ‘Ignited Mind’: unleashing the Power
within India.
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is a bachelor and a
perfect celibate. He won the Presidential
election with a heavy margin which is second
highest in history of President’s election.
Dr. A .P.J. Abdul Kalam is not a politician. He
has worked as a scientist with governments
run by different parties. He is in favour of all
the parties. It does’nt matter the least that he
does not hold the experience of doing the
Vice President’s job yet he would prove
successful because he has been to the
officers’ gallery of Lok Sabha and Rajya
Sabha as secretary of Defence Research. We
have every hope that he would prove a
successful custodian of the Constitution. He is
well aware of the working of the system
since he has attended innumerable Cabinet
Meetings as an Official.

5.  He led India’s first satellite launch
vehicle- ‘Rohini’ which successfully lifted
in 1980. With this he realised that SLV
technology could have military
application in the form of missile. He then
became Programme Director to launch
Integrated Guided Missile Development
Programme. In his 14 year work span as
Director of Defence Research and
Development Laboratory, he developed
up Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash and Nag.
He completed the long delayed ‘Arjun’
tank project and also pushed ahead with
an indigenious air craft engine ‘Kaveri’.
 He is credited wth designing state-of-the-
art warfare systems. Besides, the concept
of reusable missile and evolving an item
made of carbon-composite which can
bear a temperature of 3500c and can be
used in Misssile are his other
acheivements. Before he became the
President of India he received numerous
awards.

6.  His ideas are no figment of imagination when we
consider the following facts about him-(1) He is
one of the those few technologists who stirve to
find multiple uses for what they create. He
developed light weight calipers for the polio-
affected out of the carbon material developed for
Agni Missile.
 This material made the caliper one tenth of the
original weight of four kilograms. It was a great
experience to see how a composite material could
be used to help the polio-affected.
 (2) He feels an urgent need for good leadership
and Government funding in the scientific area,
laying greater strees on achieving result-oriented
objectives by large scale promotion of scientific
values among the masses.
 (3) He does not favour the import of technology
and encourages self-reliance in technology. He
says “Haven ‘t we proved that we can do things
with minimum foreign aid? All we need a
determination and belief in ourself”.
 (4) He has tremendous faith in the youth of this
country. He says “We have many young people of
high caliber. All that they need is a dream to
choose and fulfill.
 Beside being a scientist of high caliber, the
President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdulm Kalam is also
a poet and a lover of music. Althiugh he has a
very few leisure’s in his busy schedule. He is also
fond of playing on Veena. He is a scientist who
thinks, dreams, lives and breathes science. Also
earlier the greatness of the man is also his
simplicity depite having many achievements and
honour to his credits.

7.  Dr. Kalam is down yo earth , unassuming and
sentimental person. One instance reflecting this
quality in him is when somebody asked him is
when he became President of India, “What
would he have been if he was not a scientist”.
He said laughing “I would probably be farming
in a small piece of land in Rameswaram”.
 We are proud to have such a great Personality
who enthuses us and champions the cause for
the exceptional work of advancement of science
and public services of the highest order.
 The ‘MISILE MAN’ rose from his humble
background to became the jewel in nation’s
crown and made missiles for the country thereby
making India member of the exclusive club of
nuclear powers in the World. His journey from
Madurai based Anna University to the
Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi, is a feat which even
an Olympian gold medalist Pole Vaulted could
never have dreamt of. Kalam has the quality of
being diligently committed to his mission. He
feared love and shunned friends, who tried to be
closed, fearing it would become a heavy block in
his way os fulfilling his mission of nuclear sing
India thus he decided not to marry. After being
the President of Iargest democracy of the world,
perhaps none can have any aspiration left, but
Kalam has, of opening a school for the poor
children in Rameshwaram. Dr. Kalam says “
Great dreams and Great dreamers are always
rewarded with victory”

8.  In his biography “Wings of Fire” he describes himself as with rather undistinguished
looks, boom to tall and handsome parents. I ate with my mother. She would feed me
on the floor of kitchen, place a banana leaf before me on which she ladled rice and
aromatic sambhar, home made pickles and a dollop of fresh coconut chutney.” His
beginnings were more than humble. He writes ‘My father was a boat-owner in my
Rameshwaram. I know my imagination will ever let me down. Niether will my dreams.
Technology can change the future of man. I have seen it happen in my lifetime”.
 Indeed making India strong and self reliant- economically, socially and militarily-is
our foremost duty to our motherland and to ourself and to our future generations.” He
also put emphasis on empowerment as had Lord Krishana done in the Gita. He said
when the leader of an institution empowered others “leaders are born who can change
the nation in multiple areas.’ He futher said, “A roadmap for realizing this vision of a
developed India is in front of us……………If we work and sweat for the great vision
with ignited minds, the transformation leading to the birth of a vibrant developed
India will happen.” He rather said that the task was immediate. Quoting Kabir’s (‘KAAL
KARE SO AAJ KAR, AAJ KARE SO AAB’), he said there was need for focused action on
the part of the one billion citizens to ‘ignite their minds to face challengers like cross
border terrorism, internal conflicts and unemployment’.

9.  It will be no exaggeration to state that Abdul Kalam is instrumental in firmly
establishing India’s core competence in missile technology. His efforts, along
with that of his dedicated team, took India into the selected club of nations that
call themselves super powers.
 Kalam’s life portrays, what zest for life is all about. He writes with passion
about his mentors, his teachers and his colleagues. He writes at length about the
birth and adolescent years of the Indian space program. He writes about how to
be a good leader, a good motivator, a good project manager and a above all
someone with passion and devotion towards his work. He does all of this in
very simple prose. What struck me throughout the book was his recollection of
small snippets of poems or phrases from various sources. His citing of the
various colleagues he worked with, his bosses or people he appointed through
the 60 yrs of his career are also quite importance.
 Dr. Kalam has even been circled with various controversies as many scienticfic
experts called him a man with no authority over ‘nuclear physics’ and a man
who just carried the works of Dr. Homi Bhabha and Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.

10.  Kalam justifies India having nuclear weapon with his favourite slogan
“Strength respects strength”. He says why we worry about the few nuclear
bombs India may have why not talk about the 10,000 nuclear warheads across
the Atlantic. His co-workers think it is this philosophical bent of mind that has
helped Kalam master the art of building consensus. He always aims high. The
man, still overwhelmed by the realisation, somebody with humble origin like
him can occupy the country’s highest office, is ecstatic at the wonderful
vagaries of Indian polity when asked his reaction on being gifted with
presidential post.
 “It feels fantastic” was all he could say gleefully to the waiting media persons
as the voting for the president’s post progressed at Parliament House. He said
“India Vision 2020 demands from the young that they start a great mission of
connecting rivers cutting across the states”. He feels the young have the most
powerful mission”. I am convinced that peace, prosperity and happiness will
come only by an integrated approach to national development through
technology value system.

11. *AGNI MISSILE*

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