Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was one of the greatest men to ever live in and work for not only India but the world. Today, on his birth anniversary, let us take a short trip down the lane of his life.
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was born on 15th October in the year 1951. He was born in Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu. In the year, 1954, he graduated from St. Joseph’s College in Trichy. He specialised in aeronautical engineering from Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1957.
He presided over the development of India’s first satellite launch vehicle, SLV III. It was used in launching Rohini satellite into Earth’s orbit. After he had worked in ISRO for 2 decades, he started developing indigenous guided missiles at Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
He was also the one behind the development and operationalisation of Agni and Prithvi missiles. That is why he is called the Missile Man of India. He was the chief architect behind the Pokhran II nuclear tests. This helped India soar into the club of nuclear powers.
His academic prowess was extraordinary. He received honorary doctorates from 48 universities and institutions in India and abroad. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1981, the Padma Vibhushan in 1990 and the highest civilian award of India, the Bharat Ratna in 1997.
Apart from the world of science and defence, Kalam left his mark in the field of healthcare as well. Healthcare in rural India has seen a new dawn due to his efforts. In 2002, he became the President of India. For seven years, from 1992 to 1999, Kalam was the Chief Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister and Secretary of the DRDO.
