reasons why India proudly remembers Dr Kalam,
Known as the 'Missile Man of India', Kalam was an exemplary aerospace scientist and is remembered for his contributions towards the developments of India's missile projecT
his indelible contribution towards national development, be it as a scientist and as the President of India, His life journey gives strength to millions
He was born in 15 0ctober,1931, and raised in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu ,and studied physics and aerospace engineering, He spent the next four decades as a scientist and science administrator, mainly at the Defence Research and Development Organisation and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and was intimately involved in India's civilian space programme and military missile development efforts, 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
Kalam had served as the President between 2002 and 2007. Prior to this, he had in 1998 played a pivotal role in the success of the Pokhran-II nuclear test that included five detonations — one fusion bomb and four fission bombs,This saw India becoming the sixth country in the world to have nuclear bombs and joining the nuclear club of the five world superpowers
In the 1970s, Kalam also directed two projects, Project Devil and Project Valiant, which sought to develop ballistic missiles from the technology of the successful SLV programme,, Despite the disapproval of the Union Cabinet, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi allotted secret funds for these aerospace projects through her discretionary powers under Kalam's directorship
Kalam played an integral role convincing the Union Cabinet to conceal the true nature of these classified aerospace projects,, His research and educational leadership brought him great laurels and prestige in the 1980s, which prompted the government to initiate an advanced missile programme under his directorship
Kalam played a major part in developing many missiles under the mission including Agni, an intermediate range ballistic missile and Prithvi, the tactical surface-to-surface missile, although the projects have been criticised for mismanagement and cost and time overruns
Kalam served as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister and Secretary of the Defence Research and Development Organisation from July 1992 to December 1999,, The Pokhran-II nuclear tests were conducted during this period in which he played an intensive political and technological role. Kalam served as the Chief Project Coordinator, along with Rajagopala Chidambaram, during the testing phase,, Media coverage of Kalam during this period made him the country's best known nuclear scientist,, However, the director of the site test, K Santhanam, said that the thermonuclear bomb had been a "fizzle" and criticised Kalam for issuing an incorrect report,, Both Kalam and Chidambaram dismissed the claims.
on his 89th birth anniversary,Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads the nation in paying tributes to Dr A P J Abdul Kalam ,In his message, the PM said "India can never forget his indelible contribution towards national development, be it as a scientist and as the President of India
reasons why India proudly remembers Dr Kalam
People’s President
After being elected as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. He succeeded KR Narayan. For his simple nature, APJ Abdul Kalam was dearly called ‘People’s President, was a bachelor and a vegetarian.
Missile Man of India
APJ Abdul Kalam had an immense contribution to India’s launch of vehicle technology and the ballistic missile,,he was responsible for the development and operationalisation of Agni and Prithvi missiles. For this, he was known as ‘Missile Man of India
NASA’s Tribute To Kalam
For a newly discovered organism that was found on the International Space Station in 2017, NASA named the organism after APJ Adbul Kalam. The name of the organism is Solibacilius Kalamii,,Dr Kalam also visited NASA in 1963 after which he went on to develop the successful Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and SLV-III projects
Religious and spiritual views
A proud and practising Muslim,daily namaz and fasting during Ramadan were integral to Kalam's life,, Kalam believed that "respect for other faiths" was one of the key cornerstones of Islam, he was fond of saying, "For great men, religion is a way of making friends; small people make religion a fighting tool
Between the 1970s, and 1990s, Kalam made an effort to develop, the (PSLV) and SLV-III projects. both of which proved to be successful.
