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RIP A. P. J. Abdul Kalam: (The timeout occurred for 'Missile man')

Former President of India

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. A career scientist turned reluctant politician, Kalam was born and raised in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu and studied physics and aerospace engineering.

Mr. Kalam, was one of India’s most eminent scientists, and had the unique Honour of receiving honorary doctorates from 30 universities and institutions.

Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, widely acclaimed as the “people’s President”, passed away after collapsing during a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management in Shillong.

Kalam, who would have turned 84 in October, was confirmed dead more than two hours after he was wheeled into the ICU of Bethany hospital in the Meghalaya capital, in a critical condition following the collapse at around 6.30 pm. According to reports, Kalam suffered a massive cardiac arrest during the lecture at IIM, Shillong.

Every year, the former President go to Shillong to deliver lectures. This time his topic was “Making the World More Livable”.

Apart from leading the Indian Space Research Organisation’s satellite launch programme, Mr. Kalam headed the country’s guided missile programme for many years.

As scientific advisor to the Defence Minister from July 1992 to December 1999, the former President led the “weaponisation of strategic missile systems and the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in collaboration with Department of Atomic Energy”.

Popular with children and young people, Mr. Kalam engaged the youth by reaching out to them through lectures and public interactions. He also led a frugal life, which was reflected during his stay in the stately Rashtrapati Bhavan.

One of his pet themes was PURA – or the Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas – a theme he referred to often in his travels abroad.

Mr. Kalam also regaled visitors from abroad with his stories and often took them into his study in Rashtrapati Bhavan for detailed, informal chats.

A stellar career

* He was the 11th President of India (2002-2007).

* He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1997, the Padma Vibhushan in 1990 and the Padma Bhushan in 1981.

* Joined the ISRO in 1969 and was the project director for India’s first indigenous satellite launch vehicle programme.

* Was a pioneer of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, India’s space workhorse.

* Brain behind India’s missile programme, including Agni and Prithvi.

* He was the chief project coordinator of the Pokhran II nuclear tests.

* He was Chief Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister and Secretary of the DRDO between 1992 and 1999.

The former President tweeted this a few hours back:

Writings

In his book India 2020, Kalam strongly advocated an action plan to develop India into a "knowledge superpower" and a developed nation by the year 2020. He regarded his work on India's nuclear weapons programme as a way to assert India's place as a future superpower.

“I have identified five areas where India has a core competence for integrated action:

(1) agriculture and food processing;

(2) education and healthcare;

(3) information and communication technology;

(4) infrastructure, reliable and quality electric power, surface transport and infrastructure for all parts of the country; and

(5) self-reliance in critical technologies.

These five areas are closely inter-related and if advanced in a coordinated way, will lead to food, economic and national security.”

It was reported that there was considerable demand in South Korea for translated versions of books authored by him.

Kalam took an active interest in other developments in the field of science and technology, including a research programme for developing bio-implants. He also supported Open Source technology over proprietary solutions, predicting that the use of free software on a large scale would bring the benefits of information technology to more people.

Kalam set a target of interacting with 100,000 students during the two years after his resignation from the post of scientific adviser in 1999. He explained, "I feel comfortable in the company of young people, particularly high school students. Henceforth, I intend to share with them experiences, helping them to ignite their imagination and preparing them to work for a developed India for which the road map is already available."

Five reasons why India will miss APJ Abdul Kalam:

1. He was the youngest 83-year-old India has ever seen: Even when he died, it was while delivering a lecture to students at IIM Shillong on a liveable plant. As Meghalaya chief secretary PBO Warjiri said, he passed away in his element, while delivering a lecture to youngsters, on a subject he loved.

2. He was the perfect symbol of meritocratic India, the ideal citizen, and the most positive Indian: Born in a village to a poor fishing family in Rameswaram, he rose through dint of his own hard work.

3. He was a Renaissance man: A Muslim, a player of the veena, as comfortable with the Quran as the Bhagvad Gita, Secretary of DRDO, president of India, as happy to write scientific papers as to write bestsellers for young India.

4. He always put India First: Whether it was as a scientist or President, he was a patriot first. From reportedly advising Sonia Gandhi to not becoming prime minister in 2004 to fathering the Pokharan explosion, he always said what he felt was right. He was inspired by three of India's greatest scientists - Dr Vikram Sarabhai, professor Satish Dhawan and Dr Brahm Prakash. He took only two holidays in his life, it is said - both for deaths, of his father and mother.

5. He was the master of inspiring quotes: Here are just five:

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

"Great dreams of great dreamers are always transcended."

"To succeed in your mission, you must have single-minded devotion to your goal."

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

"We should not give up and we should not allow the problem to defeat us."

#Wings of fire, #APJ Abdul Kalam

Role model for students

A vegetarian bachelor, Kalam was quoted as saying that like most of the technology he spearheaded, he himself was "Made in India", having never been trained abroad.

Kalam succeeded K R Narayanan and served a full five-year term from 2002 until 2007 after he won the presidential elections which was a highly one-sided contest with Lakshmi Sahgal, a revolutionary of the Indian Independence movement, as his rival. He secured the backing of all political parties.

A role model for students and young people Kalam was always happy to be among them and educational institutions. He breathed his last in the premises of an educational institution.

Quote from His speech:

“2020ல் இந்தியா வல்லரசாகும் என்று 15 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பே கனவு கண்ட முன்னாள் குடியரசுத்தலைவர் அப்துல் கலாம், தனது இறப்புக்கு அரசு விடுமுறை விட்டு விடக் கூடாது என்று தான் வாழ்ந்த போதே வலியுறுத்தியுள்ளார். தன்னுடைய மரணத்தினால் எந்த இழப்பும் ஏற்படக்கூடாது கூடுதலாக வேலை செய்ய வேண்டுமென்றும் கேட்டுக் கொண்டார்.”

Let’s work, dream and succeed. Not only for us, to accomplish little bit of his wishes to come true by means of ourselves.

With lots of Regret,

Manju Sureshkumar