Millions of Indians were greatly inspired by APJ Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India and also known as the "Missile Man of India".
With the backing of both the governing Bharatiya Janata Party and the then-opposition Indian National Congress, Kalam was chosen as India's 11th president in 2002. He was widely known as the "People's President" and after serving just one term, he went back to his civilian career in teaching, literature, and public service. He had received a number of honours, including the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India.
On June 20, 2007, the day before his term came to an end, Kalam stated that he would be open to the idea of serving another term if his 2007 presidential election victory was assured. Two days later, he made the decision to withdraw from the race for president, saying that he didn't want to involve Rashtrapati Bhavan in any political activities.
He was born on October 15, 1931, and was referred to as the "Missile Man of India." The 91st anniversary of Dr Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam's birth is being observed this year. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam has accomplished and contributed in ways that are unmatched to India's advancement in missile research and development. In addition to the science sector, he has built a name for himself in other fields that have interested him, such as philosophy, literature, and language.
Kalam joined the Defense Research and Development Organization (by Press Information Bureau, Government of India) as a scientist after earning his degree from the Madras Institute of Technology in 1960 and joining the Defense Research and Development Service (DRDS). He began his career by creating a small hovercraft, but he wasn't persuaded to accept a position at DRDO.
He was a vegetarian and the first bachelor president of India. The first president of this kind had never been married. He only ate vegetarian food and had never eaten meat. By religion, Dr Kalam was a devout Muslim.
You'd be surprised to learn that Abdul Kalam held 48 honorary doctorates. In India and overseas, he had won honorary doctorates from 48 universities.
The autobiography of Abdul Kalam was written and has been made into 13 different languages. The book was initially published in English, but due to its popularity and the public's desire to learn more about his life, it was later translated into 13 other languages, including French and Chinese. Six biographies of his life are also available.
India observes APJ Abdul Kalam's death anniversary on July 27. He had a heart attack and passed away while giving a lecture at IIM Shillong.
The DRDO constructed the Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam National Memorial in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, an island settlement, in Kalam's honour. In July 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave it a ceremonial opening.
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