Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, Indian Scientist, Aerospace Engineer, Former Indian President, and renowned author, was born into a middle-class family in the island town of Rameswaram. He was the son of Jainulabdeen Marakayar and Ashiamma. Dr. Kalam’s father did not possess much wealth or formal education, but to Kalam, his father possessed “innate wisdom and true generosity of spirit”. Kalam’s description of Ashiamma is beautiful and heartfelt. He found himself unable to recall the exact number of people she fed every day. This gives us an insight into the kind and down-to-earth upbringing of Kalam. As you read ahead, you will gain a deeper understanding of the life of the missile man of India, with valuable insights into what made him so great.
| Attribute | Details |
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Born |
15 October 1931 |
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Birthplace |
Rameswaram, Madras Presidency (now Tamil Nadu), India |
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Died |
27 July 2015 (aged 83) |
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Place of Death |
Shillong, Meghalaya, India |
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Resting Place |
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Memorial, Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
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Political Party |
Independent |
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Alma Mater |
St. Joseph’s College (BEng), Madras Institute of Technology (MEng) |
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Profession |
Aerospace Scientist, Author |
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Field |
Aerospace Engineering |
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Institutions |
DRDO, ISRO |
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Notable Works |
Wings of Fire, India 2020, Ignited Minds, Indomitable Spirit, Transcendence |
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Honours |
Padma Bhushan (1981), Padma Vibhushan (1990), Bharat Ratna (1997)
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People who Influenced Dr. A. P. J Abdul Kalam’s Boyhood
Ahmed Jallaluddin, who married Kalam’s sister Zohara, gave Kalam insights into the world of education, science, and technology, as well as medical science and contemporary literature. Jallaluddin directed the curiosity of Kalam’s boyhood towards acquiring knowledge.
Sivasubramanya Iyer, Kalam’s science teacher, whom he considered quite rebellious, would tell Kalam to develop like the highly educated people of big cities. Once Abdul Kalam set out for Ramanathapuram and joined Schwartz High School, he met Iyadurai Solomon, a teacher whom he deeply admired. Iyadurai Solomon’s words, “To succeed in life and achieve results, you must understand and master three mighty forces, desire, belief, and expectation,” influenced Dr. A. P. J Abdul Kalam on many levels. He also taught Kalam a very essential element of achieving a dream: to desire it intensely and be certain it will come to pass.
Dr. Kalam’s Beliefs
Dr. Kalam, throughout his career, has influenced and inspired countless lives. One core belief Dr. Kalam holds dear to his heart is mentioned at the beginning of his book, “Wings of Fire.” Dr. Abdul Kalam has always strived to do his best to match his dear father in his world of science and technology. Throughout his life, Kalam held a certain understanding, the fundamental truths revealed to him by his father: “There exists a divine power that can lift one from confusion, misery, melancholy, and failure and guide one to one’s true place. And once an individual severs his emotional and physical bondage, he is on the road to freedom, happiness, and peace of mind. Dr.Kalam also believed that his qualities of honesty and self-discipline were instilled in him by his father, and his deep kindness and goodness came from his mother.
A Poem by Dr. A. P. J Abdul Kalam
“Fabulous air show of Paris in motion
My thought is too in flight and yearns for my Nation
When will the planes designed in my land
Pierce the sky as lightning in action
And gracefully land as angels in full boom
All to the envy of spellbound spectators
Yes, we can !!
When we are united in action and addicted to deeds
Sky can’t be limit for my nation in action.”
Dr. Abdul Kalam & Professor Vikram Sarabhai: The Ideal Leadership
Dr. Kalam found Professor Vikram Sarabhai’s optimism to be highly contagious as he was creating a new frontier in the field of science and technology in India. One unique quality that Professor Vikram Sarabhai had was the wisdom and judgment that enabled him to realise not only if something was well done, but also when it was time to stop. To Dr. Kalam, Sarabhai was the ideal experimenter and innovator. Rocketry was born in India as the vision of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Professor Vikram Sarabhai gave this vision physical dimensions. In his autobiography, “Wings of Fire,” Kalam’s deep admiration for Vikram Sarabhai’s leadership is seen in various instances. One striking quote about leadership from “Wings of Fire” is, “How good is a leader? No better than his people and their commitment and participation in the project as full partners!”
Inspiring Quotes of Dr. A. P. J Abdul Kalam
- “Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is harmony in the house; when there is harmony in the house, there is order in the nation; when there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.”
- “Thinking is progress. Non-thinking is stagnation of the individual, organisation, and the country. Thinking leads to action. Knowledge without action is useless and irrelevant. Knowledge with action converts adversity into prosperity.”
- “All of us do not have equal talent. But all of us have an equal opportunity to develop our talents.”
- “Dream is not that which you see while sleeping; it is something that does not let you sleep.”
- “Never stop fighting until you arrive at your destined place – that is, the unique you. Have an aim in life, continuously acquire knowledge, work hard, and have perseverance to realise a great life.”
- “If four things are followed – having a great aim, acquiring knowledge, hard work, and perseverance – then anything can be achieved.”
The Career of Dr. A. P. J Abdul Kalam
Kalam earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Madras Institute of Technology and joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). He then attained a position as Project Director at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), where he oversaw the SLV-III. This first satellite vehicle was both designed and built in India. The SLV-III released a satellite named Rohini into near-Earth orbit, taking India’s space programme to the international stage. Kalam also oversaw the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and further development of launch vehicle technologies at ISRO. He rejoined the DRDO in 1982 and planned the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, which later produced successful missiles, including Agni, India’s first intermediate-range ballistic missile. Another notable achievement under Kalam’s leadership was the Prithvi, a surface-to-surface tactical missile.
Dr. Kalam served as Scientific Advisor to India’s Defence Minister from 1992 to 1999 and later as Principal Scientific Advisor to the Indian Government from 1999 to 2001. He played an important role in the government’s weaponisation of missile systems, enhancing India’s nuclear power. He was also the chief coordinator of Pokhran II, in which five bombs were detonated at the test range in the town of Pokhran, Rajasthan. Kalam worked closely with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the Pokhran II test. The Pokhran II tests, also known as Operation Shakti, were a huge turning point in India’s history, demonstrating its nuclear capabilities & self-reliance.
Abdul Kalam played a vital role in secrecy and strategic planning surrounding the tests, ensuring they were conducted without any detection by external agencies. He contributed certain plans, like Technology Vision 2020, which was described as a roadmap for transforming India in a span of 20 years. In 2002, Abdul Kalam was sworn in as the 11th president of India. He played a key role in India’s nuclear power development. He launched various initiatives to improve literacy levels in India and encouraged students to pursue careers in science and technology.
Due to his focus on education and youth empowerment, and approachable nature, Kalam was known as “the people’s president.” In 2007, his presidential term ended, and Kalam returned to his civilian life, committed to his passion for science and technology. He served as a lecturer at multiple universities. He was also the visiting professor for several campuses of the Indian Institute of Management. Abdul Kalam’s simplicity and down-to-earth nature gave him immense success in connecting with children. He made it his mission to meet, interact with, and inspire young minds.
Breaking the heart of every Indian, he passed away in 2015, suffering a cardiac arrest while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong.
“My message, especially to young people, is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, courage to discover the impossible, and to conquer the problems and succeed. These are great qualities that they must work towards. This is my message to the young people.”
Dr. A. P. J Abdul Kalam, Indian Scientist, Former President & Author