Published By: Nibandh Vinod
Last Updated: October 15, 2023, 07:15 IST
APJ Abdul Kalam worked with the DRDO for over forty years of his life (Image: Shutterstock)
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s path from Rameswaram to Rashtrapati Bhavan and beyond is one of hard labour, tenacity, and great successes.
APJ ABDUL KALAM BIRTH ANNIVERSARY: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, also known as Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was a distinguished Indian scientist, engineer, and statesman who served as a former president and left a lasting impact on both his nation and the rest of the globe. He rose from modest beginnings to become one of India’s most loved and respected people. He was born on October 15, 1931, in Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram town.
Dr APJ Kalam’s remarkable career trajectory earned him the nickname “Missile Man of India,” and as the country’s eleventh president, he never stopped inspiring his fellow people with his vision of an independent and wealthy India. Sadly, on July 27, 2015, Kalam died of a heart attack while delivering a speech in Shillong. He had worked at the DRDO for over forty years.
APJ ABDUL KALAM’S BIRTH ANNIVERSARY 2023: EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Born into an impoverished Tamil Muslim home, Kalam was the youngest of four siblings. His father, Jainulabdeen, was a boat owner, while his mother, Ashiamma, was a housewife. Early education for APJ Abdul Kalam was obtained in Rameswaram, where his academic career got its start.
The Schwartz Higher Secondary School in Ramanathapuram is where he finished his education. Due to his strong drive to learn, Kalam did well in school despite his family’s low income. He read a lot and was constantly interested in what was happening in the wider world.
Kalam enrolled in Saint Joseph’s College in Tiruchirappalli after completing his education to pursue a degree in physics. When he completed his undergraduate studies in 1954, he enrolled in the aeronautical engineering programme at the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT). When Kalam was an MIT student, he displayed his brilliance and intelligence, grabbing the interest of his professors and other students.
DR APJ ABDUL KALAM AT DRDO
Kalam began working as a scientist at the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Aeronautical Development Establishment in 1960, following his graduation from the Madras Institute of Technology. After being moved to ISRO in 1969, Kalam was in charge of the country’s first satellite vehicle launch.
Kalam gained the nickname “Missile Man” for the successful missiles he created as part of the DRDO programme in 1982. The first intermediate-range ballistic missile from India, Agni, was launched in 1989 and used SLV-III components. It was one of their triumphs.
He was granted the Padma Vibhushan in 1990 and the highly esteemed Bharat Ratna in 1997, for no other reason than his exceptional accomplishments in science and space research.
APJ ABDUL KALAM AS PRESIDENT OF INDIA
Abdul Kalam was the President of India from July 25, 2002 until July 25, 2007. He was popularly regarded as the ‘People’s President,’ and he aggressively worked to improve the lives of the younger generation. His presidency resulted from a landslide victory in the 2002 presidential election, which he won by a large margin.
