The journey from a newspaper guy to President of India – Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

Bharat Ratna, Abdul Kalam was an Indian scientist who also served as the 11th President of India. Abdul Kalam was the eleventh (from 2002 to 2007) and first non-political President of India who received this designation for his outstanding contribution to technology and science. He was also an engineer and scientist. After becoming the President, he became a very respected and accomplished person in the eyes of all the countrymen. Kalamji has worked as a scientist for almost four decades; he has also been an administrator of many prestigious institutions.

Early Life

Abdul Kalam was born in a middle-class Muslim family on 15 October 1931 in the village of Dhanushkodi (Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu). Father used to rent boats to fishermen. Coming from an unfortunate family, Abdul Kalam began working at an early age to add to the family pay. Abdul Kalam lived in a joint family. Kalam has five brothers, and five sisters. Three families were living in the house. He was the youngest. His ancestors were rich Marakayar merchants. Ancestors lost most of their fortunes in the 1920s. They became poor. To fulfill the family’s daily needs, he sold newspapers. Kalam’s life was greatly influenced by his father. Father was not well educated. But diligence and the rites of father, were of great use to Abdul Kalam.

Education

Kalam was hardworking and has a strong desire to learn. Kalam spent most of his time doing mathematical problems. At the age of five, he received his education at the Panchayat Mudhali Pathshala in Rameswaram. He finished his auxiliary training at Schwartz Higher Secondary School, Ramanathapuram. Kalam went to Saint Joseph College, Tiruchirappalli to complete higher studies. In 1954, he has done his graduation in physics from this college.

Abdul Kalam also worked as a newspaper distributor to continue his early education. Kalam received a degree in astronomy from the Madras Institute of Technology in 1958. He then joined the Indian Institute of Defense Research and Development to work on the hovercraft project. In 1962 he joined the Indian Space Research Organization where he successfully played his part in several satellite launch projects. As Project Director, he was instrumental in the construction of SLV3 (India’s first indigenous satellite launch vehicle), which successfully launched the Rohini satellite in July 1980. \

Professional life

Kalam also played a vital role in developing many missiles, including Agni and Prithvi. Rohini satellite was also launched by this launch vehicle. He assumed a crucial part in the POKHRAN-II atomic test in 1998. Also worked as a scientist for forty years of his life at the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and the Indian Space Research Organisation. Later, he worked in missile development for the military. Kalam called as the missile man of India because he worked in the development of ballistic missiles and launch vehicles. In 2002, he became the president of India and; was also the first Scientist and bachelor to occupy Rashtrapati Bhawan. Sometimes kalam also known as “People’s President”. He was the third President of India, who got the Bharat Ratna. In an interview at PGI Chandigarh, Kalam supported the uniform civil code.

Political Life

Dr. Abdul Kalam conducted India’s first atomic test in 1974. In the election of the twelfth president of India, he has defeated his rival by taking 89 percent of the votes. No one suspected that the election of Abdul Kalam as the President of India was merely a formality. Abdul Kalam became the third Muslim President of India. Five thousand members of the Central and State Electoral Colleges of the country elected him as president.

Later Life

After working as the President of India for five years, he worked at the Indian Institute of Management Indore, Indian Institute of Management Ahmadabad, and Indian Institute of Management Shillong. He also worked as an honorary fellow of IISc Bangalore, Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology Thiruvananthapuram; as a Professor at Anna University and many other academic institutions in India.

On 27 July 2015, Kalam headed out to Shillong to give a talk on “Creating a Livable Planet Earth” at the Indian Establishment of The Executives. Clinic Shillong. While walking on the stairs of the flight, he got some pain but felt good after some rest. He started his lecture at 6:30 p.m.. At 6:35 p.m., he got collapsed. He admitted in Bethany Emergency Hospital. Kalam was confirmed dead at 7:45 p.m. after a sudden cardiac attack. His final words to his helper, Srijanpal Singh, were: “Funny guy! Are you doing well?

After Kalam’s death, his body was taken from Shillong to Guwahati, and from there to Delhi on 28 July (in the morning). His body wrapped in the Indian Flag and placed in the gun carriage. Then taken to his Delhi residence at 10 Rajaji Marg. On 29 July, his body taken to Palam Air base and then airlifted to Madurai. Then received at Madurai Airport by Manohar Parrikar, Venkaiah Naidu, Pon Radhakrishnan, and the governor of Tamil Nadu. From there, his body taken to his hometown. Upon arriving at his hometown, his body displayed in front of the local bus station for the public to pay tributes. On 30 July, his body was cremated at Rameswaram.

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