Life

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabudeen was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque his mother Ashiamma was a housewife.

Career as a scientist

After graduating from the Madras Institute of Technology in 1960, Kalam joined the Aeronautical Development Establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as a scientist. He started his career by designing a small hovercraft, but remained unconvinced by his choice of a job at DRDO.

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.

Personal life

In the 2011 Hindi film I Am Kalam, Kalam is portrayed as a positive influence on a poor but bright Rajasthani boy named Chhotu, who renames himself Kalam in honour of his idol.

Words of Wisdom

“Don’t take rest after your first victory because if you fail in second, more lips are waiting to say that your first victory was just luck.”

• 1931 - Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born to a boat owner, Jainulabudeen, and housewife, Ashiamma, on October 15, 1931.
• 1960 - After narrowly missing-out on becoming a fighter-pilot, Kalam went on to become a scientist, as he joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), where he designed a helicopter.
• 1969 - Kalam, however, was not too convinced about his work at the DRDO, and transferred to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• 1970 - In the 1970s, Kalam was also involved in two projects that were sanctioned to build missiles. These projects were reportedly rejected by the Union Cabinet. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi used her discretionary powers to fund these projects secretly. However, these projects were brought to a halt in 1974 (Project Valiant) and in 1980 (Project Devil).
• 1980 - He became India's first project director to launch a satellite launch vehicle (SLV-III). The ISRO successfully deployed Rohini into the orbit. Rohini lasted for around 20 days in the Earth's orbit.
• 1980 - Kalam was appointed as the chief executive of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). Under his guidance, different missiles like the Agni, and the Prithvi were developed. However, the IGMDP was criticised later, for mismanagement, and overrunning budgets.
• 1981 - Due to his incredible work at the ISRO, launching India's first home-made satellite, the Government of India gave him the Padma Bhushan award in the Civil Service category.
• 1990 - Kalam received the second highest civilian award from the Indian Government, for his works at the ISRO and the DRDO. He was given the Padma Vibhushan award in the Science & Engineering category.
• 1990 - During this period, Kalam was the Chief Scientific Adviser to Prime Ministers like PV Narasimha Rao and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The government conducted the Pokhran-II nuclear tests, of which, Kalam served as the Chief Project Coordinator, with R Chidambaram.
• 1997 - Kalam's achievements were recognised by the Indian Government, as he received the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.
• 2002 - Kalam won a landslide vote in the Presidential elections, and proceeded to become the first scientist to make it to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He was also the third Bharat Ratna awardee to become the President.
• 2007 - After five years in office, when he signed the Office of Profit Bill, and also heard 21 mercy petitions from prisoners who were handed out capital punishment, Kalam finally decided that he would not stand for re-election.
• 2015 - dies at the age of 83

"Thinking should become your capital asset, no matter whatever ups and downs you come across in your life."

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