A Homage to India’s Missile Man, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

A Homage to India's Missile Man, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam: Knowing him from the ground

If you want to shine like a sun, first burn like a sun.

Man needs his difficulties because they are necessary to enjoy success."

"You have to dream before your dreams can come true.

He made India stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the rest of the world in line of science, development, technology and education. He took his last breath while doing what he had been doing throughout his life- enlightening the candle of knowledge with his simplicity, humility and inspiring words. His life has had been fuels the young generation of India to learn. He is none other than the People's President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the Missile Man of India. Born to a boat owner Jainulabudeen, and Ashiamma, a housewife, in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu on 15 October, 1931, Dr Kalam's childhood was not so much

Born on 15 October, 1931, in a Tamil Muslim family to a boat owner, Jainulabudeen, and Ashiamma, a housewife, in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu, Kalam's childhood was not a plain sailing. To financially support his family during his childhood, young Kalam distributed newspapers after his school hours. A hardworking student, he held Mathematics and Physics closely to his heart and this keen interest cruised his professional endeavour in the field of aerospace engineering. While we are well versed with Dr Kalam's life, here are some of the lesser known facts about him. Have a look:

1. India's identity as a nuclear nation is a present of sheer effort and dedication of Dr Kalam's organizational and technical support for Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, the first such tests after a gap of 24 years.
2. Known as the People's President, Kalam set a goal of conducting 500,000 one-on-one meetings with young people over the course of his five-year term. His immense popularity led to him being nominated by MTV for a Youth Icon of the Year award in 2003 and 2006.
3. To honour the scientist and former president, the southeast Indian state government of Tamil Nadu created a "Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award," which recognizes exceptional individuals who promote the sciences, students and humanities.
4. Tamil Nadu's government has established Dr Kalam's birthday (October 15) as "Youth Renaissance Day."
5. After becoming president of India, Kalam donated his salaries and savings to a trust he had founded, called PURA (Providing Urban Amenities to Rural Areas).
6. During his presence at Lakshmi Vidya Sangham in 2015, Kalam refused to take the larger chair that had been provided to him on the dais, and sat on same kind of chairs that the students used.
7. While attending one such function at the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), Mysuru, he had asked for a regular chair rather than the ceremonial one provided for him.
8. He is the man behind India's first satellite launch carrier (SLV III), who landed Rohini satellite to Earth.
9. Dr Kalam has received a total of 48 Honorary Doctorates from India and abroad!
10. Dr Kalam has also contributed towards the improvement of Rural health. He has developed a low-cost stent with Cardiologist Somaraju.
11. During his residency at 10 Rajaji Marg in New Delhi (2007–2015), he never started his lunch until the birds outside the glass door were fed first.
12. Once Kalam went to Erode to attend a function sponsored by Sowbhagya in August 2014. On that occasion, They gave him a grinder as a gift. He refused to accept it, but said he needed one for his family and wanted to pay for it. He then sent a person to our shop with a cheque for Rs 4,850 dated August 25, 2014.
13. Working at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Kalam had rejected a proposal to place broken glass on the walls of the institution to prevent break-ins as it would be harmful for the birds that perch on the walls.
14. He once addressed 400 students without electricity.
15. He wanted to make Rashtrapati Bhavan as the first home in India to be entirely solar powered.

He will always live in India's heart forever.