A tribute to the ‘Missile Man of India’

Born into the modest surroundings of a Muslim family in Tamil Nadu, a young boy once traded newspapers both to support his family and make ends meet. Somehow, the brilliant lad was destined to become the formal head of the world's largest democracy - Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India. Instead of opting for a conformist carrier in Indian politics, he had honestly served his country through the pit of hard work as a pioneering scientist, a skillful administrator and a revered statesman.
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (October 15, 1931 - July 27, 2015) was the 11th President of the Republic of India, from 2002 to 2007. Initially, he spent four decades working for the Indian government both as a nuclear physicist and a scientific administrator - mainly at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Significantly, Dr. Abdul Kalam was intimately involved in India's strategic missile development project and thus came to be known as the "Missile Man of India" due to his outstanding contribution on the simultaneous research and development of India's ballistic missiles and Launch Vehicle (LV) technology. He also played a pivotal role in the organisational, technical and political aspects of the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, the first since the original nuclear test by India in 1974. Moreover, Dr. Abdul Kalam was a rocket scientist who rose to prominence as head of India's successful civilian space program and its efforts to build the strategic missile defense shield.
The popularity of President Abdul Kalam was undimmed by his renunciation of office. In departure, he set himself a challenging schedule of speeches and had an eccentric ability to connect with a variety of audiences - distinctly concerning the educational institutions.
MAN OF SIMPLICITY
Bizarrely for an Indian who is already engaged in a high position like the Presidency, Abdul Kalam was a man of great simplicity. During his 25 years as a scientist based at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, he insinuated himself to ordinary persons everywhere. He survives forever through his strange recollections - waiting patiently for a bus, having breakfast at his favourite tea shop, interacting with people from backgrounds as humble as which he had outgrown. In this simplicity lay the secret of his ability to connect with people regardless of age, gender, chaste, class, religion and region.
GREAT HUMAN BEING
Often, President Abdul Kalam used to break the protocols of national security to meet common citizens, especially the children -- he always wore his infectious smile wherever he went. This was in stark contrast with most Indian politicians who usually follow strict rules and stay behind layers of security. He loved sharing his experiences and knowledge with young minds through his books and speeches.
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTATIONS
l "You have to dream before your dreams can come true."
l "If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher."
l "If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher."
l "My message, especially to young people is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, courage to discover the impossible and to conquer the problems and succeed. These are great qualities that they must work towards. This is my message to the young people."
l "To succeed in your mission, you must have single-minded devotion to your goal."
l "Let me define a leader. He must have vision and passion and not be afraid of any problem. Instead, he should know how to defeat it. Most importantly, he must work with integrity."
l "Great dreams of great dreamers are always transcended."
l "Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow."
l "Man needs his difficulties because they are necessary to enjoy success."
l "Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work."
l "You see, God helps only people who work hard. That principle is very clear."
Unfortunately, President Abdul Kalam died of a massive cardiac arrest on the evening of July 27, 2015 after he collapsed while delivering a lecture on Liveable Planet at Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Shillong. The government of India has declared a seven-day state mourning as a mark of respect to the former President. The country has never had a more beloved president. Active till death, he left the world in mid-speech to remind us that he still had something more to say.
Lastly, the sudden passing of its former president has left the Indian nation in grief. APJ Abdul Kalam died on Monday at the age of 83. He was famous for his modesty and societal interactions that moved countless lives around the country.
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