In the life of Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, known popularly as the ‘Missile Man of India’, one sees a true patriot who earned the utmost respect in society due to his amazing intellect and indomitable spirit. Dr. Kalam was not only a great scientist but also served as the 11th president of the country in 2002. He was born on 15 October 1931, in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. A significant component of Dr. Kalam’s life can be interpreted as the perfect synergy of hard work, inventiveness, and love for the country that allows reaching the highest positions in the country. Dr. Kalam holds an exceptional position in the history of India in politics and science, owing to his incredible work in Indian defense technology and the Indian space research program.
This dissertation, therefore, will focus on one section of Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam’s biography dealing with the moment of his life when he was most involved in the Indian defense developments, his vision of an advanced India and what is the source of his motivation to pursue such goals.
Early Life and Education Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was a Tamil Muslim born in the town of Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu state in a suburban family. His father Jainulabideen was a boat owner while his mother Ashiamma was a homemaker. Regardless of such a background, he was noticing a great level of activity while doing academic work due to his interest and curiosity at a young age. Kalam went to Schwartz Higher Secondary School in Ramanathapuram for higher school education. He then graduated in Physics from St Joseph’s College-Tiruchirappalli. His fascination for planes and missiles was subsequently developed when he went to the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) where he pursued an aerospace engineering degree focusing on flight mechanics. Journey as a Scientist The inception of Dr Kalam’s career as a scientist can be traced back to the Defence Research and Development Organisation, the DRDO, where he joined in 1958 and was involved in projects developing hovercraft. He later worked for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and from this point, he started making a series of significant inputs into the space and missile programs for India.
1. Role at ISRO
Kalam was engaged with the SLV (Satellite Launching Vehicle) project and by this time he was the project director for SLV-3, the launch vehicle of the first ever Indian satellite which was launched in 1980 carrying the Rohini Satellite. With this achievement, India became a member of the select club of nations which possessed the capability of launching satellites.
2. Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)
After finishing other significant projects, he returned to DRDO to supervise the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme that involved such ballistic missile designs as the Agni or the Prithvi. His rare skill has earned him the memorable title of the “Missile Man of India”.
3. Nuclear Tests
In 1998, Indian authorities carried out what they dubbed Pokharan-II, the Indian nuclear tests second in a row, and for this operation, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam executed the role of Chief Executive. It was A. P. J. Abdul Kalam who executed Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s idea of being PM’s Chief Scientific Adviser and made sure everything was done to the highest standards.
Dr. Kalam’s term as the President of India
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam held the presidential office as the Eleventh President of India from 2002 to 2007 and was the first President with an Islamic background as a native Indian as well. It is also remarkable that the Indian President, who was endorsed by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition, during his five years of presidency remarkably advocated for the youth of India and was an educationalist and an active worker of the nation.
1. People’s President
Also known as the ‘People’s President’—a nickname for President Kalam—he was so approachable and humble that this further increased his popularity as well as acceptance. He always sought to establish linkages with organizations and reach out to students to win the youth to the cause of national development.
2. Vision 2020
The President of the country and head of state, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, designed a vision for India that promised to make India a developed nation by the year 2020. This initiative he proposed emphasized the need for development in various sectors, including the domains of technology, the creation of sophisticated infrastructure, and advancements in education.
3. Ideas that changed the policies.
Other plans of Dr. Kalam during his presidency, which included among others PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas), focused on rural development which aimed at reducing the urban-rural divide.
Books and Inspirational Works.
Dr. Kalam was quite a prolific writer and authored several books where he showcased his ideas and dreams for India. Some of his most notable works include:
1. Wings of Fire.
Wings of Fire is about his life when he was the most respected scientist in India and narrates his journey starting from very humble beginnings. The book continues to motivate people of all kinds.
2. India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium.
Most readers learn through this book about the growth trajectory that Kalam devised for India, which aimed at agriculture, education, health care, infrastructure, and information technology as the key drivers.
3. Ignited Minds.
This book is meant for the youth of India and contains clear ideas about why it is important to have lofty dreams and how to turn those dreams into reality.
4. The Luminous Sparks.
This book consists of a different suite of poems and a few others, which aim at portraying his personal beliefs and philosophies. One other aspect highlighted in this book is Kalam’s compassion and his faith in humanity.
Awards and Honors
Many awards came his way after his achievements in the fields of science, education, and public service during his lifetime at the national and international levels.
1. Bharat Ratna (1997)
Kalam was awarded the Bharat Ratna as he made an invaluable contribution towards the development of defense and space in India.
2. Padma Bhushan (1981) & Padma Vibhushan (1990)
He was successful in completing his public engagements as well as scientific advancements. He was awarded these prominent medals.
International recognition
Not fewer than forty universities around the globe bestowed upon him honorary doctorates, and he was equally referred to as a prophet and an innovator.
Vision for a Developed India
The vision for India that Dr. Kalam presented to us is arguably one that recognizes the relevance of advanced science and technology and workforce development. Some of these areas are:
3. Empowering Youth
Steering advancement in India’s trajectory is the Indian youth. This is what Kalam believed, thus making it a point to meet school children and women, emphasizing the importance of having lofty expectations.
4. Sustainable Development
To diversify the source of energy, he advocated the use of alternative energy resources like solar and wind energy, etc.
5. Education for All
Dr. Kalam stressed the need for enhancing quality education, especially in the rural parts of the country, as a measure to bridge the socio-economic differences.
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam made remarkable contributions to the progress of science and technology in the country, remaining at the same time humble, spiritual, and simple. An inspiring visionary, he saw in space biotechnology, and defense industries India’s leap toward becoming a superpower. Thus, education was the most fundamental aspect of this scientist’s life.
Dr. Kalam is still a source of motivation for several people across the globe for his sheer dedication and tenacity. His is an account of hardship, stories of extraordinary optimism and tireless grit. He chose to ignore the obstacles and the sceptics that went with it and instead, he focused on assisting the youth because they shall be the leaders of the country. He passed away on 27th July 2015 while speaking at the Indian Institute of Management. He was revered for his innovative ideas in Indian defense and space technology.
The vision that he nurtured and made a global impact has been instilling the dreams of many generations. Many lessons can be learned from him, most importantly going to be lessons of humility, hard labor, and giving up.
His work still shapes strategic policies in this nation and his personality is exemplary for everyone.
- Tributes In this regard an appropriate place was also found to construct the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam National Memorial which is located in Rameswaram.
- Continuing his Legacy Further, schools, colleges, and scientific institutions have been marking the day of his birth as the ‘World Students’ Day’ to carry on his coat of arms. Relevance of Dr. Kalam’s Vision in the Modern Era
- Technological Progress One of the common themes of Dr. Kalam’s message to our youth is to look out for opportunities to innovate, and this is consistent with India’s initiatives including Make in India and Digital India today.
- Sustainable Development His advocacy of renewable energies is relevant to the world’s battle against climate change.
- Youth Empowerment Kalam’s opinion on youth and young people being active actors in the present day has relevance in a country like India which population-wise has the largest youth.
Conclusion
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was among the best scientists and leaders of this nation, but above all, he was a people’s leader and a visionary. There is a purpose and meaning to every stage in life, from a child from a small village in Tamil Nadu, turned a sir to the president of the nation and the missile man, walks an exclamation of hard work and faith that leads to success.
There is no doubt that Kalam’s work in science education and nation-building activities will be documented as part of the history of India. His work will inspire future youth in such a way that hard and smart work can always lead to achieving the goals set out. “You have to dream before your dreams can come true,” he used to say.