Dr.Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam

DR. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is a God's gift to our nation. He is a great inspiration for all people especially the youth. It's difficult to find such a great and humble person like him. Until his last breath he was with the students, inspiring them by his speech. APJ has made each and every moment in his life worthable.The last message delivered by him to the students of IIM-Shillong is “ Be courageous to invent something and travel more”. He has thought us a great slogan “Dream, Dream, Dream Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action”. His departure is a big loss for the entire nation.It’s our responsibility to give tribute for “The missile Man” APJ Abdul Kalam a great Legend and fulfil his dreams that he had for our nation.

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15th October 1931 in Rameshwaram, Tamilnadu, India to Jainulabudeen and Ashiamma. His father was a ferry owner and was the only source of income for their family. Kalam gave his contribution to his family by distributing newspapers.

Abdul Kalam did his schooling in Schwartz Matriculation School, Ramanathapuram and continued his college studies by taking physics as his core subject in Saint Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli. After completing his graduation in 1954 he went to Madras to study aerospace engineering in Madras Institute of Technology.

Kalam started his career as scientist in Aeronautical Development Establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organisation and he was also a part of Indian National Committee for Space Research. In July 1980 he was the ISRO project director of India's first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) which was deployed Rohini satellite in near-earth orbit.Polar Satellite Launching Vehicle (PSLV) and SLV-III are the projects that were successfully completed by Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam. He played a major part in developing many missiles under the mission including Agni and Prithvi.From 1992 to 1999, Kalam served as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of the Defence Research and Development Organisation. Along with Rajagopala Chidambaram, he served as a Chief Project Coordinator during the testing phase of Pokhran-II nuclear tests which has made him to be known as the country's best nuclear scientist.He was a visiting Professor of Indian Institute of Management in Shillong, Ahmedabad and Indore. He worked as a professor in Aerospace Engineering at Anna University and Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology Thiruvananthapuram.With the central theme of defeating corruption Kalam launched “What Can I Give Movement” Programme for the Youth of India.

APJ Abdul Kalam was the 11th President of India, the first scientist to occupy Rashtrapati Bhawan and was the third President of India to have been honoured with the India's highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna before presidentship. People's president has done many reforms when he was a president mainly signing the “Office of Profit Bill” and supporting the need of “Uniform Civil Code” in India.

Abdul Kalam has been honoured with many awards and was recognized as a honourable person in other countries also. United Nations has declared his 79th birthday as World Student Day. To celebrate the visit of Kalam to Switzerland in 2005, they have declared 26th May as Science Day. From 40 universities Kalam has received doctorates.To honour his work in ISRO and DRDO and his role as a scientific advisor to the Government, he received the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan from the Government of India.

Books of Kalam have kindled several minds and influenced many people. Some of his popular books are India 2020, Wings of fire, Ignited Minds, Mission India, Envisioning an Empowered Nation, Forge your Future and Target 3 Billion.

While delivering his lecture at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong on "The Livable Planet Earth", Kalam fainted at around 6:30 p.m on 27 July 2015. Immediately he was taken to Bethania Hospital in a critical condition and was admitted in the intensive care unit. They have confirmed that his death was due to a massive cardiac arrest.He has left us at his 83rd age but he will live in hearts of million people forever. Once he said that “Don't Declare Holiday On My Death, Instead Work An Extra Day, If You Love Me”. To obey his words Government of India announced that there will be a seven day state mourning for the tribute of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam but there will be no holiday.Let’s take a pledge to fulfil all his dreams that he had for our nation and youth.