Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, who was elected as the 11th president of India between 2002 and 2007, died at the age of 84 in 2015 while teaching at the Indian Institute of Management in Shillong.
The birth anniversary of Dr. Kalam is celebrated as National Innovation Day and World Students Day. He is a respected and famous person around the world and is known as the “People’s President” for his commitment to the development of the country.
The early life of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in Rameswaram, Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency, and now in the State of Tamil Nadu.
After graduating from Schwarz High School in Ramanathapuram, Kalam continued his education in St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli, formerly part of the University of Madras.
He graduated from the university’s physics department in 1954 and then moved to Madras in 1955 to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering. After graduating from the Madras Institute of Technology in 1960, Kalam joined the aerospace development organization of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) as a postgraduate scientist and became a member of the Research and Development Department (DRDS).
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam: President of India
Dr. Kalam succeeded K. R. Narayanan as the 11th president of India. He won the presidential election against Lakshmi Sahgal in 2002. He was nominated by the New Democratic Alliance government but has the full support of the opposition. His term lasted from July 25, 2002 to July 25, 2007.
He was loved by the “People’s President” for his concern for ordinary people during his time.
Honors and legacy of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
Dr. Kalam received 7 doctorates from 40 universities.
The Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan in 1981 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1990 for his work at ISRO and DRDO and his role as a government advisor.
In 1997, Kalam received India’s highest civilian honour, ‘Bharat Ratna’, for his contribution to India’s innovations in science and technology.
In 2013, he received the Von Braun Award from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration “for excellence in the management and leadership of aerospace-related projects.”
Odisha National Missile Testing Range Wheeler Island was renamed Abdul Kalam Island in September 2015.
Books
Dr. Kalam wrote many books and there are many books written about him. His best-known and most inspiring works are:
India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium by A P J Abdul Kalam, Y. S. Rajan.
Wings of Fire: The Autobiography of APJ Abdul Kalam, Arun Tiwari.
Ignite the Mind: Unleashing the Power in India, APJ Abdul Kalam.
Quotes by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
“Don’t take rest after your first victory because if you fail in the second, more lips are waiting to say that your first victory was just luck.”
“Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action.”
“All of us do not have equal talent. But, all of us have an equal opportunity to develop our talents.”
“Failure will never overtake me if my definition of succeeding is strong enough.”
Death
2015 July 27, Dr. Kalam was in Shillong to deliver a lecture titled “Creating a Livable Planet” at the IIM, Shillong.
He died of a heart attack while talking to students.
He was a leader, researcher and most importantly a teacher who was passionate about interacting with students and youth, whom he called the future. He inspired many and was loved and cherished by all was kept.
