SHORT ESSAY ON 'DR. A.P.J.

ABDUL KALAM'
Full name of 'Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam' was 'Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam'. He
was born to the Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma on 15th of October in 1931 at Dhanushkothi in
the temple town Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu. He was born in a poor family, but he was an
exceptionally brilliant child.

The financial conditions of his family was little poor so he started supporting his
family financially in his early age. He started earning money to support his family however
never gave up on his education. He completed his graduation in 1954 from Saint Josephs
College, Tiruchirappalli and aerospace engineering from Madras Institute of Technology.
Kalam passed the B.Sc. examination from Saint Joseph College, Thiruchirapalli. He joined
Madras Institute of Technology (MIT). His further knowledge in the field got upgraded when
he joined Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in 1958 and Indian
Space Research Organization (ISRO) in 1963. He is known as the Missile Man of India. The
various Indian Missiles of world order like Prithvi, Trishul, Akash, Agni, etc. are mainly the
result of his efforts and caliber.

His Career and Contributions

After his graduation, he joined Aeronautical Development Establishment of Defense

Research and Development Organization (DRDO) as a chief scientist however; soon he
shifted to the Indian Space Research Organization as a project director of Indias first
indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle. He also worked as a Chief Executive of Integrated
Guided Missile Development Program which involved in simultaneous development of a
quiver of missiles.

He also became the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister from 1992 to 1999 and
Secretary of Defence Research and Development Organization. He was called as the Missile
Man of India after his successful contribution as the Chief Project Coordinator for Pokhran
II nuclear tests. He was the first scientist who served as the President of India from 2002 to
2007 without any political background.

He wrote many inspirational books such as India 2020, Ignited Minds, Mission India,
The Luminous Sparks, Inspiring Thoughts, etc. In order to beat the corruption in country
he launched a mission for youths named What Can I Give Movement. He served as visiting
professor in various universities and institutes of the country (Indian Institute of Management
Ahmedabad and Indore, etc), as Chancellor of Indian Institute of Space Science and
Technology Thiruvananthapuram, JSS University (Mysore), Aerospace Engineering at Anna
University (Chennai), etc. He has been awarded with the awards like Padma Vibhushan,
Padma Bhushan, Bharat Ratna, Indira Gandhi Award, Veer Savarkar Award, Ramanujan
Award and many more.

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam became the 11th President of India. He served the country from 2002
to 2007. For his excellence and brilliance, he was awarded the prestigious Bharat Ratna in
1998; Padma Vibhushan in 1990; and Padma Bhushan in 1981.

Dr Kalam expired on Monday 27 July 2015. He suddenly fell unconscious when he was
delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management at Shillong. On 30 July 2015, the
former President was laid to rest at Rameswaram's Pei Karumbu Ground with full state
honours. Over 350,000 people attended the last rites, including the Prime Minister, the
governor of Tamil Nadu and the chief ministers of Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was mainly interested in work. He was a bachelor. He was not
interested in going abroad. He wanted to serve his motherland first. He said that he thinks his
first and foremost duty is to serve his motherland. He was fond of music and the Koran and
the Gita. Ever since becoming the head of the Indian State, he had been having interaction
with children all over the country. He was by no means a miracle man. His advice to the
youngster of the nation was to "dream dream and convert these into thoughts and later into
actions".