Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam or the Missile Man of India was born on 15 October 1931 in Rameshwaram, India. He served as the President of India from 2002-2007. He was an Indian scientist and politician who played a major role in the development of India’s Nuclear Weapons and Missiles and that’s why he got the nickname of Missile Man. Kalam also devised a 20-year action plan to achieve economic growth through technological development in India.
History:
He attended Madras Institute of Technology and got a degree in aeronautical engineering in 1960. After completing graduation, he joined DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and later joined ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). He was associated with the National Democratic Alliance in the political field.
Abdul Kalam created the Technology Vision project in 1998 which sought to develop India’s economy through technology, particularly in agriculture, and increase the availability of health care and education. Because of his broad popularity and services, the National Democratic Alliance nominated him for president in 2002. He died in Shillong in 2015 while giving a speech.
Awards and Works:
He received many awards from both the national and international community for his contributions to science and engineering and his service to the government. His most notable ones are:
1990: Padma Vibhusan
1997: Bharat Ratna
He wrote several books including an autobiography Wings On Fire (1999).
After his sudden demise in Shillong, he was laid to rest at Pei Karumbu, Rameswaram on 30 July 2015. A memorial has been built at the burial site. Inside, the memorial, one can see the selected photos, paintings, miniature models of missiles, and many more things.
