KNOWLEDGE 👍😐😐
The Missile Man of India: Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
Educational Background of Abdul Kalam
Although Kalam had average school grades, he was very hardworking and had an immense desire to learn. He spent a lot of time studying and developed a particular interest in mathematics. After completing his early education, Kalam left Schwartz Higher Secondary School and went to Saint Joseph's College, Tiruchirapalli. From Saint Joseph's College, he graduated in physics in 1954. He moved to Madras in 1955 to study aerospace engineering at the Madras Institute of Technology.
Kalam as a Scientist
Kalam joined as a scientist in the aeronautical development establishment of DRDO in 1960, after graduation. His career started with him designing a small hovercraft. However, he was not convinced by his choice of a job at the DRDO. Kalam was transferred to ISRO in 1969, where he was the project director of India's first satellite vehicle launch. The satellite vehicle deployed the Rohini satellite successfully in near-Earth orbit in July 1980. Kalam received the Government's LV and SLV projects between the 1970s and 90s. He directed two projects Project Devil and Project Valiant, which aimed at developing ballistic missiles from the successful SLV program's technology Kalam somehow convinced Indira Gandhi and sought secret funds for these aerospace projects. His research and immense knowledge brought him and the nation great laurels in the 1980s.
Kalam then went on to become the scientific advisor of the defense minister in 1992 and served in the same post for five years before getting promoted to the post of principal scientific advisor to the government. His immense role in the country's 1998 nuclear weapons tests solidified India as a nuclear power. Kamal had now become a national hero, to be remembered for ages to come. However, the tests he conducted caused a huge uproar in the international community. Kamal put forward a nationwide plan called Technology Vision 2020, which according to him, was a fantastic way for transforming the stature of India in 20 years, taking it from a developing to a developed nation. The plan envisioned the progress of the nation by adopting advanced technology, expanding healthcare facilities, and emphasizing the education of the masses.
Presidency
Sir Kalam was entitled to be the 11th president of India. His term period of 25th July 2002 to 25th July 2007 was achieved by winning a presidential election in 2002 with a massive margin of votes. National Democratic Alliances’ nominated him to be president and it was supported by the Samajwadi Party and National Congress Party. He was lovingly called as people’s president as he had done uncountable work for the welfare of the people and throughout the entire country.
He was brave and courageous enough to make decisions and implement them no matter if that was tough sensitive or highly controversial. The “office of profit” is perhaps the hard Act that he had to sign. The “office of profit”, according to the English Act of Settlement in 1701 explains that no single individual who has a professional set up under the royal family, who has some kind of provision with or who is taking a pension from the prince has the right to work for the of the “House of Commons”. This will allow the royal family to have zero influence on the administrative conditions.
He also became one of the most talked-about presidents in 2005 for imposing the President’s rule in Bihar. Kalam expressed his wish to take up the position one more time but then later changed his mind.
After taking farewell from the office, he shifted and commenced his career as a visiting professor at the Indian Institute of Management in Shillong. He served as an Aerospace Engineering professor at Anna University, Tamil Nadu. He also lit up educational institutions like the Indian Institute of Indore and, the Indian Institute of Bangalore with his presence and knowledge. Sir Kalam served as chancellor Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram.
In 2012, he introduced a program called “What Can I Give?” focusing on the theme of eradicating corruption from the country.
The Demise of Abdul Kalam
As we know, everyone who takes birth on the Earth has to die one day. But some people remain immortal in the hearts of millions of people because of their contribution to the country. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was one such personality who died at 83. It was shocking news for the entire country as a pure soul left us forever. Abdul Kalam while delivering a speech for the youth at an event at IIM Shillong. During the middle of the speech, he suffered from a cardiac arrest and collapsed. Although he was admitted to the best hospital in Shillong, the doctors could not save him.
Then his body was airlifted to Gugati, and from there, it was taken to New Delhi in an Air Force plane. Their PresidentPresident, vice president, and some other leaders prayed for his soul. His body was then covered in the Indian National flag and brought to his hometown. About 35000 people attended his funeral event and prayed for such a great soul.
Writings of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
Dr. Abdul Kalam was a person who was not only a great political leader but also a good teacher and a writer. He had many delicate qualities and visionaries. He always had an excellent dream for the country's development and realized that the youth can bring revolution. During his university career, he inspired many of the students through his inspirational speech and tremendous visionaries. Apart from this, Dr. Kalam was a great writer. He has written several books, which are mainly meant for the nation's empowerment. His creation of India 2020 was like a gift for us, and he had all the strategies to make India a Superpower. In this book, he primarily focused on some factors like food and development in the Agriculture sector, improved healthcare facilities, advanced information and communication systems, good infrastructure, sufficiency in electricity production, and Self-reliance in some advanced technologies.
Achievements of Abdul Kalam
Abdul Kalam was a person of a golden heart who has received ample awards and achieved many things during his life journey. In 1981 Abdul Kalam received the prestigious Padma Bhushan award. In 1990 he received the Padma Bhushan award. The renowned personality, because of his tremendous effort towards the nation, received the Bharat Ratna in 1997. In the same year, he was awarded the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration. The government of India awarded Kalam with the Veer Savarkar award in 1998. Because of his contribution to arts, science, and technology, he received the SASTRA Ramanujan Prize in 2000. Finally, in the year 2013, the eminent personality was bestowed with the Von Braun Award by the National Space Society.
Although the life of Abdul Kalam was filled with struggles and hardships, he rose above his adversaries to become one of the greatest scientists of modern India. His role in nation-building will be remembered till posterity.
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