HISTORY

PROJECT
TOPIC:- LIFE SKETCH AND
CONTRIBUTIONS OF DR A.P.J
ABDUL KALAM
 INTRODUCTION
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (15 October 1931 – 27 July 2015) was an Indian
aerospace scientist who served as the 11th president of India from 2002 to 2007. He was born
and raised in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu and studied physics and aerospace engineering. He
spent the next four decades as a scientist and science administrator, mainly at the Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) and was intimately involved in India's civilian space programme and
military missile development efforts.[1] He thus came to be known as the Missile Man of
India for his work on the development of ballistic missile and launch
vehicle technology.[2][3][4] He also played a pivotal organisational, technical, and political role in
India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, the first since the original nuclear test by India in 1974.

Dr Kalam was elected as the 11th president of India in 2002 with the support of both the
ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the then-opposition Indian National Congress. Widely
referred to as the "People's President",[6] he returned to his civilian life of education, writing
and public service after a single term. He was a recipient of several prestigious awards,
including the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.
 EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION OF DR KALAM
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 Jainulabdeen Marakayar was a boat owner
and imam of a local mosque;[9] his mother Ashiamma was a housewife. [10][11][12][13] His father
owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and the now
uninhabited Dhanushkodi. Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one sister in his
family. Kalam was the youngest of five siblings, the eldest of whom was a sister, Asim Zohra (d.
1997), followed by three elder brothers: Mohammed Muthu Meera Lebbai
Maraikayar, Mustafa Kalam and Kasim Mohammed.He was extremely close to his elder
siblings and their extended families throughout his life, and would regularly send small sums of
money to his older relations, himself remaining a lifelong bachelor.

As a young boy he had to sell newspapers in order to add to the family’s meager income. With
the opening of the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in 1914, however, the businesses failed and
the family fortune and properties were lost over time, apart from the ancestral home. [19][20][21]

In his school years, Kalam had average grades but was described as a bright and hardworking
student who had a strong desire to learn. He spent hours on his studies,
especially mathematics.[21] After completing his education at the Schwartz Higher Secondary
School, Ramanathapuram, Kalam went on to attend Saint Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli,
then affiliated with the University of Madras, from where he graduated in physics in
1954.[22] He moved to Madras in 1955 to study aerospace engineering in Madras Institute of
Technology.[13] He narrowly missed achieving his dream of becoming a fighter pilot, as he
placed ninth in qualifiers, and only eight positions were available in the IAF.
 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 (by Press Information Bureau, Government of India) as a scientist after becoming
a member of the Defence Research & Development Service (DRDS). He started his career by
designing a small hovercraft, but remained unconvinced by his choice of a job at
DRDO.[26] Kalam was also part of the INCOSPAR committee working under Vikram Sarabhai,
the renowned space scientist.[13] In 1969, Kalam was transferred to the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) where he was the project director of India's first Satellite Launch Vehicle
(SLV-III) which successfully deployed the Rohini satellite in near-earth orbit in July 1980; Kalam
had first started work on an expandable rocket project independently at DRDO in 1965. [1] In
1969, Kalam received the government's approval and expanded the programme to include
more engineers.[25]

In 1963 to 1964, he visited NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia; Goddard
Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland; and Wallops Flight Facility.[11][27] Between the
1970s and 1990s, Kalam made an effort to develop the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
and SLV-III projects, both of which proved to be successful.

Kalam was invited by Raja Ramanna to witness the country's first nuclear test Smiling
Buddha as the representative of TBRL, even though he had not participated in its
development. In the 1970s, Kalam also directed two projects, Project Devil and Project Valiant,
which sought to develop ballistic missiles from the technology of the successful SLV
programme.[28] Despite the disapproval of the Union Cabinet, Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi allotted secret funds for these aerospace projects through her discretionary powers
under Kalam's directorship.[28] Kalam played an integral role convincing the Union Cabinet to
conceal the true nature of these classified aerospace projects.[28] His research and educational
leadership brought him great laurels and prestige in the 1980s, which prompted the
government to initiate an advanced missile programme under his directorship. [28] Kalam
and Dr V S Arunachalam, metallurgist and scientific adviser to the Defence Minister, worked
on the suggestion by the then Defence Minister, R. Venkataraman on a proposal for
simultaneous development of a quiver of missiles instead of taking planned missiles one after
another.[29] R Venkatraman was instrumental in getting the cabinet approval for
allocating ₹ 3.88 billion for the mission, named Integrated Guided Missile Development
Programme (IGMDP) and appointed Kalam as the chief executive. [29] Kalam played a major
part in developing many missiles under the mission including Agni, an intermediate range
ballistic missile and Prithvi, the tactical surface-to-surface missile, although the projects have
been criticised for mismanagement and cost and time overruns. [29][30]

Kalam served as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister and Secretary of the Defence
Research and Development Organisation from July 1992 to December 1999. The Pokhran-
II nuclear tests were conducted during this period in which he played an intensive political and
technological role. Kalam served as the Chief Project Coordinator, along with Rajagopala
Chidambaram, during the testing phase.[11][31] Media coverage of Kalam during this period
made him the country's best known nuclear scientist. [32] However, the director of the site test,
K Santhanam, said that the thermonuclear bomb had been a "fizzle" and criticised Kalam for
issuing an incorrect report.[33] Both Kalam and Chidambaram dismissed the claims.[34]

In 1998, along with cardiologist Soma Raju, Kalam developed a low cost coronary stent, named
the "Kalam-Raju Stent".[35][36] In 2012, the duo designed a rugged tablet computer for health
care in rural areas, which was named the "Kalam-Raju Tablet".[37]
 PRESIDENCY
Kalam served as the 11th president of India, succeeding K. R. Narayanan. He won the 2002
presidential election with an electoral vote of 922,884, surpassing the 107,366 votes won
by Lakshmi Sahgal. His term lasted from 25 July 2002 to 25 July 2007. [38]

On 10 June 2002, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) which was in power at the time,
expressed that they would nominate Kalam for the post of President, [39][40] and both
the Samajwadi Party and the Nationalist Congress Party backed his candidacy.[41][42] After the
Samajwadi Party announced its support for Kalam, Narayanan chose not to seek a second term
in office, leaving the field clear.[43] Kalam said of the announcement of his candidature:

I am really overwhelmed. Everywhere both in Internet and in other media, I have been asked
for a message. I was thinking what message I can give to the people of the country at this
juncture.[44]

On 18 June, Kalam filed his nomination papers in the Indian Parliament, accompanied by
Vajpayee and his senior Cabinet colleagues.[45]

The polling for the presidential election began on 15 July 2002 in Parliament and the state
assemblies, with the media claiming that the election was a one-sided affair and Kalam's
victory was a foregone conclusion; the count was held on 18 July. [46] Kalam became the 11th
president of the Republic of India in an easy victory,[47] and moved into the Rashtrapati
Bhavan after he was sworn in on 25 July.[48] Kalam was the third President of India to have
been honoured with a Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, before becoming the
President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1954) and Zakir Hussain (1963) were the earlier recipients
of Bharat Ratna who later became the President of India. [49] He was also the first scientist and
the first bachelor to occupy Rashtrapati Bhawan.[50]

During his term as president, he was affectionately known as the People's

President,[51][52][53] saying that signing the Office of Profit Bill was the toughest decision he had
taken during his tenure.[54][55][56] Kalam was criticised for his inaction in deciding the fate of 20
out of the 21 mercy petitions submitted to him during his tenure. [57] Article 72 of
the Constitution of India empowers the President of India to grant pardons, and suspend or
commute the death sentence of convicts on death row. [57][58] Kalam acted on only one mercy
plea in his five-year tenure as president, rejecting the plea of rapist Dhananjoy Chatterjee, who
was later hanged.[57] Perhaps the most notable plea was from Afzal Guru, a Kashmiri terrorist
who was convicted of conspiracy in the December 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament and
was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court of India in 2004.[58] While the sentence was
scheduled to be carried out on 20 October 2006, the pending action on his mercy plea resulted
in him remaining on death row.[58] He also took the controversial decision to impose
President's Rule in Bihar in 2005.[59]

In September 2003, in an interactive session in PGI Chandigarh, Kalam supported the need
of Uniform Civil Code in India, keeping in view the population of the country. [60][61][62][63]

At the end of his term, on 20 June 2007, Kalam expressed his willingness to consider a second
term in office provided there was certainty about his victory in the 2007 presidential
election.[64] However, two days later, he decided not to contest the Presidential election again
stating that he wanted to avoid involving Rashtrapati Bhavan from any political
processes.[65] He did not have the support of the left parties, Shiv Sena and UPA constituents,
to receive a renewed mandate.[66][67]

Nearing the expiry of the term of the 12th President Pratibha Patil on 24 July 2012, media
reports in April claimed that Kalam was likely to be nominated for his second
term.[68][69][70] After the reports, social networking sites witnessed a number of people
supporting his candidature.[71][72] The BJP potentially backed his nomination, saying that the
party would lend their support if the Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party and Indian National
Congress proposed him for the 2012 presidential election.[73][74] A month ahead of the
election, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee also expressed their support for
Kalam.[75] Days afterwards, Mulayam Singh Yadav backed out, leaving Mamata Banerjee as the
solitary supporter.[76] On 18 June 2012, Kalam declined to contest the 2012 presidential poll.
He said of his decision not to do so:

Many, many citizens have also expressed the same wish. It only reflects their love and
affection for me and the aspiration of the people. I am really overwhelmed by this support.
This being their wish, I respect it. I want to thank them for the trust they have in me. [77]
Post-presidency
After leaving office, Kalam became a visiting professor at the Indian Institute of Management
Shillong, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, and the Indian Institute of
Management Indore; an honorary fellow of Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore;[78] chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology
Thiruvananthapuram; professor of Aerospace Engineering at Anna University; and an adjunct
at many other academic and research institutions across India. He taught information
technology at the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, and
technology at Banaras Hindu University and Anna University.[79]

In 2011, Kalam was criticised by civil groups over his stand on the Koodankulam Nuclear Power
Plant; he supported the establishment of the nuclear power plant and was accused of not
speaking with the local people.[80] The protesters were hostile to his visit as they saw him as a
pro-nuclear scientist and were unimpressed by the assurances he provided regarding the
safety features of the plant.[81]

In May 2012, Kalam launched a programme for the youth of India called the What Can I Give
Movement, with a central theme of defeating corruption. [82][83]

DEATH
On 27 July 2015, Kalam travelled to Shillong to deliver a lecture on "Creating a Livable Planet
Earth" at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong. While climbing a flight of stairs, he
experienced some discomfort, but was able to enter the auditorium after a brief rest. [84] At
around 6:35 p.m. IST, only five minutes into his lecture, he collapsed. [85][86] He was rushed to
the nearby Bethany Hospital in a critical condition; upon arrival, he lacked a pulse or any other
signs of life.[85] Despite being placed in the intensive care unit, Kalam was confirmed dead of a
sudden cardiac arrest at 7:45 p.m. IST.[85][87][88] His last words, to his aide Srijan Pal Singh, were
reportedly: "Funny guy! Are you doing well?"[89]
PERSONAL LIFE
Kalam was noted for his integrity and his simple lifestyle. He never owned a television, and
was in the habit of rising at 6:30 or 7 a.m. and sleeping by 2 a.m.[125] His few personal
possessions included his books, his veena, some articles of clothing, a CD player and a laptop;
at his death, he left no will, and his possessions went to his eldest brother, who survived him.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

Kalam received 7 honorary doctorates from 40 universities.[150][151] The Government of India
honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 1981 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1990 for his work
with ISRO and DRDO and his role as a scientific advisor to the Government.[152] In 1997, Kalam
received India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, for his contribution to the scientific
research and modernisation of defence technology in India. [153] In 2013, he was the recipient
of the Von Braun Award from the National Space Society "to recognize excellence in the
management and leadership of a space-related project".[154]

In 2012, Kalam was ranked number 2 in Outlook India's poll of the Greatest Indian.[155]

Following his death, Kalam received numerous tributes. The Tamil Nadu state government
announced that his birthday, 15 October, would be observed across the state as "Youth
Renaissance Day;" the state government further instituted the "Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Award", constituting an 8-gram gold medal, a certificate and ₹500,000 (US$7,000). The award
will be awarded annually on Independence Day, beginning in 2015, to residents of the state
with achievements in promoting scientific growth, the humanities or the welfare of
students.[156]

On the anniversary of Kalam's birth in 2015 the CBSE set topics on his name in the CBSE
expression series.[157]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi ceremonially released postage stamps commemorating Kalam
at DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi on 15 October 2015, the 84th anniversary of Kalam's birth.

Researchers at the NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) had discovered a new bacterium on
the filters of the International Space Station (ISS) and named it Solibacillus kalamii to honour
the late president Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.[158]

Several educational and scientific institutions and other locations were renamed or named in
honour of Kalam following his death.
  Kerala Technological University, headquartered at Thiruvananthapuram where Kalam
lived for years, was renamed to A P J Abdul Kalam Technological University after his
death.

 An agricultural college at Kishanganj, Bihar, was renamed the "Dr. Kalam Agricultural
College, Kishanganj" by the Bihar state government on the day of Kalam's funeral. The
state government also announced it would name a proposed science city after
Kalam.[159]

 India's First Medical Tech Institute named as Kalam Institute of Health

Technology located at Visakhapatnam.[160]

 Uttar Pradesh Technical University (UPTU) was renamed A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Technical
University by the Uttar Pradesh state government. [161]

 A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Memorial Travancore Institute of Digestive Diseases, a new research

institute in Kollam city, Kerala attached to the Travancore Medical College Hospital.[162]

 A new academic complex at Mahatma Gandhi University in Kerala. [163]

 Construction of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Science City started in Patna in February

2019.[164]

 A new science centre and planetarium in Lawspet, Puducherry. [165]

 India and the US have launched the Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship in September
2014. The first call for applicants was announced on Friday, 12 March 2016, for the
fellowship which will enable up to 6 Indian PhD students and post-doctoral researchers
to work with US host institutions for a period of 6–12 months. The fellowship will be
operated by the binational US-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) under the Fulbright
programme.[166]

 Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Planetarium in Burla, Sambalpur, Odisha was named after him.

Island

Wheeler Island, a national missile test site in Odisha, was renamed Abdul Kalam Island in
September 2015.[167]

Road

A prominent road in New Delhi was renamed from Aurangzeb Road to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
Road[168][169] in August 2015.[170]
Plant species

In February 2018, scientists from the Botanical Survey of India named a newly found plant
species as Drypetes kalamii, in his honour.[171]