Dr APJ Abduk Kalam also known as the Missile Man of India was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in Rameswaram in the State of Tamil Nadu.
He had to start working at an early age to support his family. He worked as a newspaper boy after school. He was an average student in school but is fondly remembered as a bright and hardworking student with a strong desire to learn.
He completed his degree in 1954. The former President also wished to serve in the Air Force, but failed to make the cut by a narrow margin. He stood ninth and only eight positions were available.
After completing his studies he joined the Aeronautical Development Establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as a scientist. One of the first projects he worked on was to design a small helicopter for the Indian Army. He also got the opportunity to work with the renowned space scientist, Vikram Sarabhai However, Kalam was not much satisfied with his career at the DRDO.
Presidency
Kalam stood for presidency in 2002 and easily won the presidential election. He had the support of both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Indian National Congress and was sworn in as the 11th president . He was the first scientist to occupy Rashtrapati Bhawan. He was a popular president who was much respected by the citizens of the country, specially he was famous with students.He was widely referred to as the “People’s President”.
Post-Presidency
he returned to his civilian life of education, writing and public service after his term as 11th president. He was a recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour.
While delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong, Kalam collapsed and died from an apparent cardiac arrest on 27 July 2015, aged 83.Thousands including national-level dignitaries attended the funeral ceremony held in his hometown of Rameshwaram, where he was buried with full state honours.
Personal Life
Kalam was the youngest of five siblings, the eldest of whom was a sister,followed by three elder brothers.He was extremely close to his elder siblings and their extended families throughout his life.
Kalam was noted for his integrity and his simple lifestyle. He was in the habit of rising at 6:30 or 7 a.m and sleeping by 2 a.m. His few personal possessions included his books, his veena, some articles of clothing, a CD player and a laptop.
APJ Abdul Kalam’s Famous quotes from his speeches
Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.
Don’t take rest after your first victory because if you fail in second, more lips are waiting to say that your first victory was just luck.
All Birds find shelter during a rain. But Eagle avoids rain by flying above the Clouds.
Man needs difficulties in life because they are necessary to enjoy the success.
If you want to shine like a sun. First burn like a sun.
All of us do not have equal talent. But , all of us have an equal opportunity to develop our talents.
Three step guide to achieve goals in life are: Finding an aim in life before you are twenty years old; Acquire knowledge continuously to reach this goal; Work hard and persevere so you can defeat all the problems and succeed.
I would like to ask you, what would you like to be remembered for? You have to evolve yourself and shape your life. Write your dreams down on a piece of paper. That page may be a very important page in the book of human history.
Books become permanent companions. Sometimes, they are born before us; they guide us during our life journey and continue for many generations.
For great men, religion is a way of making friends; small people make religion a fighting tool.
Dreams are not those which comes while we are sleeping, but dreams are those when u don’t sleep before fulfilling them.
Learning gives creativity
Creativity leads to thinking
Thinking provides knowledge
Knowledge makes you great.
Sometimes, it’s better to bunk a class and enjoy with friends, because now, when I look back, marks never make me laugh, but memories do.
