Dedicating this post on the occasion of 'Missile Man of India' APJ ABDUL KALAM BIRTHDAY
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was an aerospace scientist who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. He was born and raised in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu and studied physics and aerospace engineering.
Dr Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam a.k.a APJ Abdul Kalam, one of the most beloved Presidents of India was born on October 15, 1931. An Aerospace Engineer by profession, he spent nearly four decades as a scientist and science administrator, primarily at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation.
Happy birthday Kalam!
APJ Kalam, who was born on October 15 1931, contributed to the world of science and humanity. He was born and raised in Rameswaram,Tamil Nadu, and studied physics and aerospace engineering. He came to be known as the 'Missile Man of India' for his work on the development of ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology.
India's Missile Man
After graduating from MIT in 1958, he applied to fly fighter aircrafts for a young Indian Air Force. However, he did not get through. He was ranked ninth when only eight slots were available in the Indian Air Force. This was not the only failure that he faced. Little did he know, the rockets that were supposed to put Indian Satellites into space, would be his biggest failure as a scientist.
11th President of India
In 2002, Kalam became the 11th President of India. Kalam engineered the Pokhran-II nuclear tests which catapulted India into the club of Nuclear Powers which were till then only exclusive to five countries. The 2018 movie "Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran" featuring John Abraham was inspired from Kalam.
The Mega Icon
The National Geographic film, which is part of the channel's ongoing series 'Mega Icons', narrates significant events from the life of India's 'Missile Man' and gives a "scientific breakdown" of how these events turned him into a revered leader, the institute said in a statement here. "The documentary also reveals many lesser-known facts, not just through intimate interviews with his close ones, but also through the voice of the former president," it said.
People's President
Fondly recognized as the 'People's President', he was honoured with prestigious awards such as Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award, and Bharat Ratna, the country's highest-civilian award.
The all-rounder
APJ Kalam passed away minutes after delivering a lecture at the institute in July 2015. The authorities launched a Centre for Policy Research the same year in his honour. For seven years (1992-1999) Kalam remained the Chief Scientific Adviser to the PM and Secretary of the DRDO. From physics to defence to healthcare, he has made immense contribution to India.
Dr APJ ABDUL KALAM with Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba
http://media.radiosai.org/journals/vol_09/01MAY11/04-kalam-on-Swami.htm - SATHYA SAI BABA – A DIVINE LEGEND
http://abdulkalam.nic.in/sp221102.html - 21st CONVOCATION ADDRESS BY DR. A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM, PRESIDENT OF INDIA AT THE SRI SATHYA SAI INSTITUTE OF HIGHER LEARNING