Abdul Kalam, in full Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in the Pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabdeen was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque; his mother Ashiamma was a housewife. Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one sister in his family
Abdul Kalam was a man of simplicity and his dedication to his profession, patriotism and his love for children is always an inspiration to every individual. He made every Indian proud. … Abdul Kalam is called the “Missile Man of India” for his work on the development of ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology.
He was the 11th president of India and elected against Lakshmi Sehgal in 2002. Before becoming the President of India, he worked with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) as an aerospace engineer.
Missile Man of India: He thus came to be known as the Missile Man of India for his work on the development of ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology. He also played a pivotal organizational, technical, and political role in India’s Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, the first since the original nuclear test by India in 1974.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: Awards and Achievements
- In 1981, Dr. Kalam received Padma Bhushan from the Government of India.
- In 1990, Dr. Kalam received Padma Vibhushan from the Government of India.
- In 1994 and 1995, Distinguished Fellow and Honorary Fellow by Institute of Directors India and National Academy of Medical Sciences.
- In 1997, he had received Bharat Ratna from the Government of India and the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration from the Indian National Congress.
- In 1998, Veer Savarkar Award from the Government of India.
- In 2000, Ramanujan Award from Alwars Research Centre, Chennai.
- In 2007, he was honored with the King Charles II Medal by the Royal Society, U.K., and Doctorate of Science from the University Of Wolver Hampton UK.
- In 2009, The California Institute of Technology, U.S.A, presented Kalam with the International von Karman Wings Award, Hoover Medal by ASME Foundation, USA, and Honorary Doctorate by Oakland University.
- In 2010, Doctor of Engineering by the University of Waterloo.
- In 2011, The IEEE honored Kalam with IEEE Honorary Membership.
- In 2012, Doctor of Laws by Simon Fraser University.
- In 2013, Von Braun Award by the National Space Society.
- In 2014, Doctor of Science by the Edinburgh University, UK.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Books
- India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium (co-authored with Yagnaswami Sundara Rajan, (1998)
- Wings of Fire: An Autobiography (1999)
- Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India (2002)
- The Luminous Sparks (2004)
- Mission India (2005)
- Inspiring Thoughts (2007)
- Target 3 Billion by A.P.J. Kalam and Srijan Pal Singh (2011)
- Turning Points: A Journey Through Challenges (2012)
- My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions (2013)
- A Manifesto for Change: A Sequel to India 2020 (co-authored with V. Ponraj, 2014)
- Reignited: Scientific Pathways to a Brighter Future by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Srijan Pal Singh (2015)
- Governance for growth in India (2014)
SOME THOUGHTS BY DR. APJ ABDUL KALAM
- All birds find shelter during the rain. But eagle avoids rain by flying above the clouds. Problems are common, but attitude makes the difference.
- Don’t read success stories, you will only get a message. Read failure stories, you will get some ideas to get success.
- If you salute your work, you do not have to salute anybody. If you pollute your work, you have to salute everybody.
- Difficulties in your life do not come to destroy you, but to help you realize your hidden potential and power, let difficulties know that you too are difficult.
- If you are born with fame, it is an accident. If you die with fame, it is an achievement.
- Earth is the most powerful and energetic planet.
- Without your involvement, you can’t succeed. With your involvement, you can’t fail.
Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam died due to a cardiac arrest while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Shillong on July 27, 2015.