July 27th, 2015, the day written down the epilogue of an era. An era that enlightened not only India, but each country across the globe with its knowledge, humility and inspiration. An era that commenced on October 15th, 1931 transforming a poor and humble child of a ferry owner into India’s missile man. Yes, the era which was named as Kalam, which taught India how to dream.
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the name does not seek an introduction. Born on October 15th, 1931 to a Muslim family in Rameswaram, the name of his father was Jainulabudeen, a ferry renter and his mother was Ashiamma, a housewife. Dr. Kalam started experiencing the hardships of life right from an early age. He commenced working at an early age in order to augment his family income. After completion of the day’s school, young Kalam tend to involve himself in miscellaneous tasks, including the distribution of Newspapers.
During his years at school, he had been labeled as an average student, who was diligent and responsive with a keen interest in Mathematics. He attended Saint Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli, and graduated in Physics in the year 1954. He later went to Madras Institute of Technology to pursue his career in the field of aerospace engineering.
Breakthrough Failure to Achieve His Dream
There are not many people who know that Dr. Kalam’s own failure to pursue his dream career puts him on the path that inspired Young India to forge their own dream. Right from an early childhood Dr. Kalam believed that he was a born pilot and aimed the Indian Air Force (IAF) as his ultimate destination. But the fate had greater plans for him, due to which he narrowly missed the fighter pilot-test securing the ninth position, with only eight qualifying seats available at that time. But later, he not only went on to achieve his dream, but also set up a whole new record that no one had ever imagined. In the year 2006, he became the first Head of State to fly Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter plane.
Journey as a Scientist
After completing his graduation from Madras Institute of Technology, Dr. Kalam joined the department of Aeronautical Development Establishment of the DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organization) as a scientist. One of his initial projects in the career as a scientist included the designing of a small helicopter for the Indian Army.
His career span of nine years at DRDO forged him into a person who was well ready to take India’s defense technology to a whole new level. After being transferred to ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization), Dr. Kalam found himself overwhelmed to work and hone his skills as a scientist under the leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai (the pioneer of the Indian Space Program), Prof. Satish Dhawan and Dr. Brahm Prakash. His most precious learning years under these esteemed individuals built the foundation on which Dr. Kalam successfully accomplished his work in the field of ballistic missiles and launch vehicle technology. He also had the subsequent success of Prithvi, Agni, Trishul and Naag Missiles under his belt. He played a decisive role to successfully conduct India’s nuclear tests (Pokhran-II) in the year 1998.
Dr. Kalam had also notified his presence in the field of medical technology, when he developed an economical coronary stent along with the noted cardiologist Soma Raju in the year 1998. This low-cost stent was later named as “Kalam-Raju” stent. The pair later designed (in year 2012) the tablet computer for the rural health care initiative. The tablet was named as “Kalam-Raju” tablet.
Becoming Bharat Ratna
Dr. Kalam was conferred the Bharat Ratna in the year 1997, by then president K R Narayanan for his outstanding achievements in the field of science and defense technology. Prior to that, he was also bestowed with prestigious civilian awards of India like Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration.
The Presidency (2002-2007)
Dr. Kalam served the highest chair of the Republic of India, as the 11th president with a five year term from 25th July 2002 to 24th July 2007. His sworn-in ceremony was held on July 25th, 2002 and he became the third president after Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1954) and Dr Zakir Hussain (1963) to adorn the office after getting bestowed with the highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna. Additionally, he also became the first scientist as well as the first bachelor to occupy the office at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
During his tenure, Dr. Kalam signed the important Office of Profit Bill and executed presidential rule in Bihar in the year 2005. Despite of adorning the highest chair of the largest democracy in the world, Dr. Kalam made several amendments in the presidential protocols, to remain in constant touch with the children and the general masses. His efforts earned him the affectionate name, ‘People’s President’ from his fellow countrymen.
The Post Presidency Period
After the completion of his 5 year tenure at the president’s office, Dr. Kalam well-suited himself to pursue back his academic and research journey. He became a visiting professor at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, the Indian Institute of Management Indore, and the Indian Institute of Management Shillong. He was also an honorary fellow of IISc (Indian Institute of Science), Bangalore. He also served as the Chancellor at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology located in Thiruvananthapuram. He also served as the professor of Aerospace Engineering at Anna University and several other prestigious academic and research institutions in India.
Dr. Kalam used to enjoy his leisure time writing poetry in Tamil Language. He was also a very good player of the South Indian string instrument, Veenai. Dr. Kalam used to devote some good time of his everyday life listening to Carnatic Music. He had a firm belief in Hinduism and always said that practicing the phrases of Bhagavad Gita in real life can surely transform an average individual into a purposeful human being. Dr. Kalam also practiced strict vegetarianism throughout his life.
His Contributions to Writing
Dr. Kalam was a natural writer in every sense. His famous quote that, “the best teacher does not teach from the book, but from the heart” reveals everything about the invaluable writing legacy that he left in the world. Some of his most popular writing works include Wings of Fire (1999), Mission India (2005), Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India (2002), My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions (2013), Envisioning an Empowered Nation (Written with A Sivathanu Pillai), India 2020: A vision for the New Millennium (1998) (written with Y S Rajan), Developments in Fluid Mechanics and Space Technology, 1988 (Written with Roddam Narasimha) and Turning Points (2012).
The best thing that one can find in Dr. Kalam’s work is its simplicity. He never tried to compel his readers to mug-up philosophical or technical terms or research findings. Instead, he emphasized more on the lifetime experiences, natural incidences, successes and most importantly, failures. All of his work tried to open the gates of the spirit and the mind of the reader to judge the emptiness inside and conduct a self study and assessment to aspire.
His Real-Life Facts Revealing the True Essence of Life
Various minor and major incidences of Dr. Kalam’s life reflect the fact the it is not the distinguished achievements, but small triumphs on the key junctures of life that dares a person to become extraordinary. The following are some of the lesser known facts about Dr. Kalam that made him the epitome of the greatest beings that ever walked on Earth.
- Confidence: After the completion of the Pokharan-II Tests, controversy hovered around Kalam, when K. Santhanam, the director of the nuclear field test, raised questions against Dr. Kalam’s statistics and factual reports. Dr. Kalam, however, remained confident about his knowledge and findings and with the help of the noted researcher, R Chidambaram succeeded in dismissing all the accusations.
- Realistic: During a convocation ceremony at IIT Varanasi, despite of being the chief guest he refused to take his allotted seat. The reason was that the seat made ready for him was larger than the rest. He demanded for a chair like all the other dignitaries.
- Sense of Humor: He was popular for making surprise visits to schools and colleges in order to meet students out there. Even when he was one of the central advisors of the Government of India, he preferred to meet the students of the organizing committees with minimal to no security at all, without even considering the time day or night.
- Leadership: During his career span at ISRO, he boldly came forward and accepted the mistakes for all the failed tests in front of the press. But after one major breakthrough success, he sent his fellow scientists to share the great news with the press with no personal presence anywhere at all.
- Inspiration: In Dr. Kalam’s book ‘My Journey’, he revealed about some of the unnoticeable daily life incidences that actually inspired him to become great. He recalled the attempt and hard work of building the first boat along with his father, and how the same lost in a cyclone. Building another boat thereafter, gave him the first lesson to never give-up in life. Kalam the eternal powerhouse of inspiration for millions of Indians, considered his father as the first and most significant source of inspiration to himself.
- Struggle: After his admission into Madras Institute of Technology, he could not arrange thousand rupees to pay the fee. His father too could not afford the money. At that time, Dr. Kalam’s sister mortgaged her gold bangles in order to arrange the money for the admission purpose.
- Tolerance: Our former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam along with millions of fellow Indians underwent harassment by the US security personnel at New York’s JFK Airport. Dr Kalam was enforced to take the jacket and shoes off in order to be checked for explosives. 80 years old Kalam at that time, was in the United States to attend a series of events. Again, on September 29, while on a departing flight from New York, he was once again interrupted by the security officials and was thoroughly checked once again within the flight. Although, Dr. Kalam had the immunity of being an international figure of political importance and former president of a republic nation, he never protested the deliberate harassment and calmly cooperated with the security personnels both the times. He not even reported the incidence after the flight landed in New Delhi.