Essays

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, popularly known as Dr. A.P.J, Abdul Kalam, was the son of a little educated boat-owner in I Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu, who went on to become the Eleventh President of the Republic of India. 'Indian Missile man' was the first scientist to occupy the Rashtrapati Bhavan. A man with a vision. Dr. Kalam has taken unto himself, the task of changing the destiny of India. He is a vegetarian and teetotaler, who recite the Quran and the Bhagwad Gita with equal devotion. Recipient of several awards including the Padma Bhusan (1981) and the Padma Vihhushan (1990), he has been honoured with India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna (1997).

Before becoming President, Dr. Kalam had an unparalleled career as a defence scientist. He wove a first world dream for the Third World nation and acted on India's behalf to place her in the exclusive Space Club. The father of India's indigenous missile programme said, "We must think and act like a nation of a billion people and not like that I of a million people. Dream, dream, dream! Conduct these dreams into! Thoughts, and then transform them into action." His three visions for India - Freedom, Development and Self-Reliance, are arrived at on the basis of achievements and progress made by India, and during his own Career as a missile scientist.

Born on 15th October 1931 Abdul Kalam studied at Schwartz High School in Ramanathapuram. After graduating in science from St.  Joseph’s College in Tiruchi, he did his DMIT in Aeronautical engineering at the MIT, Madras, during 1954-57. His father jainulabdeen Marakayar, though not a well-educated person, possessed great innate wisdom, true generosity of spirit and was a spiritual person.  Being the youngest in the family Abdul was pampered a lot and had a secured childhood. His neighbours remember him as an introvert Interested in reading, that too in an environment where books were a scarce commodity. Kalam believes that he has inherited honesty and self- Discipline from his father, while faith in goodness and kindness from his mother.

After completing his third year at MIT, Kalam joined Hindustan 'aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bangalore as a trainee. In 195X, when he "in out of HAL as a graduate of aeronautical engineering he had his long-standing dream of flying. He had two alternative opportunities employment one was the job at Directorate of Technical Development and Production (DTD&P) of the Ministry of Defence and another was A career in the Indian Air Force. He applied at both the places, and the interview calls came simultaneously from both. While he just missed. The opportunity to join the Air Force, he was selected by the DTD&P.

Initially, he was posted at the Technical Centre (Civil Aviation). He lost the resentment of failure, thinking he would be able to make aeroplans airworthy if not fly aeroplanes. After carrying out a design assignment on supersonic target aircraft, he was sent to the Aircraft and armament Testing Unit (A&ATU) at Kanpur to get shop-floor exposure to aircraft maintenance. Upon his return to Delhi, he was informed that the design of a DART target had been taken up at the DTD&P and he was included in the design team. After that, he undertook a preliminary Design study on Human Centrifuge. He designed and developed a vertical Takeoff and landing platform, and Hot Cockpit. Three years later, the aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) was formed in Bangalore and he was posted there.

During 1963-82, Dr. Kalam served the Indian Space Research organization (ISRO) in various capacities. Here he initiated Fibre reinforced Plastics (FRP) activities. After a stint with the aerodynamics and design group, he joined the satellite launch vehicle team at Thumba, Near Trivandrum and soon became Project Director for SLV-3. As Project Director, he was responsible for carrying out the design. Development, qualification and flight testing of 44 major sub systems the project managed to put Rohini, a scientific satellite, into orbit ill July 1980.

In 1982, as Director of DRDO, Kalam was entrusted with the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), India's most successful military research task to date. The programme constituted of 5 major projects for meeting the requirements of tilt- defence services and for establishing re-entry technology. The missiles went up more or less on schedule: Trishul in 1985, Prithvi in 1988, Agni in 1989 and the others ,in 1990. The development and successful flight test of Prithvi, Trishul, Akash, Nag, and Agni established the indigeneous capability towards self reliance in defence preparedness.

The establishment of the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), a campus 5 km from DRDL. in 1988 was perhaps the most satisfying achievement for Kakim during the missile years. He received generous funding from the Government to build the futuristic centre, which is totally geared for work in advanced missile technologies. Kalam's interest in the

anvironinent saw RCI emerge as an oasis in a rocky wasteland. It has a small t'arin that meets the food requirements of those who stay in the , RCI quarters.

In November 1999, Kalam was appointed Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and accorded the rank of a Cabinel Minister. His role was to advise on overall scientific development in the country on issues relating to scientific and technical policy in different sectors. Kalam also advised on matters relating to achieving technological self-reliance and foreign collaboration. In November 2001, Kalam quit the post to take over the job as ISRO's distinguished professor. He joined Anna University, Chennai as Professor, Technology 6 Societal Transformation and was involved in teaching and research tasks. He also took up ;i mission to ignite the young minds for nation. Development by meeting high school students across the country.  

On 18 July 2002, he was elected as President of India and held lilt- post for five years. People loved and respected Dr APJ Abdul Kalam so much during his tenure as President that was popularly called tin- People's President. Dr. Kalam is always full of ideas aimed at tin- development of the country. He firmly believes that India needs to play a more assertive role in international relations. He would like to see India become a developed country by 2020. On his assumption of office as President of India on 25 July 2002, he said, "Indeed, making India strong  And self-reliant—economically, socially and militarily—is our foremost  Duty  to our motherland and to us and to our future generations".

Dr. Kalam is one of the most distinguished scientists of India with The unique honour of receiving honorary doctorates from 30 universities and institutions. As an author, he has written Ignited Minds, My Journey, The luminous Sparks, The Life Tree, children Ask Kalam. Indomitable Spirit and Inspiring Thoughts. He has also co-authored Wings of Fire with Arun Tiwari, 2020-A Vision for the New Millennium with Y.S.  Rajan, Envisioning an Empowered Nation with S. Sivathanu pillai Developments in Fluid Mechanics and Space Technology with R.  narasimha. Mission India with Y.S. Rajan, and Guiding Souls with Arun k. tiwari.