$50,000,000
Abdul Kalam
Net Worth
Born in (City)
Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu
Born in (Country)
India
Date of Birth
15th December, 1931
Date of Death
27th December, 2015
Mother
Ashiamma
Father
Jainulabdeen
About
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s story is an inspiring one of a poor village boy who rose up to heights, leading the best space projects in the Country. He was the 11th President of India, an Aerospace Engineer and a Scientist who played a vital role in the development of Ballistic Missiles and Launch Vehicle Technology. As a result of this, he came to be known as the “Missile Man of India." Aside from his immense contribution to science and technology, he has also written a few books including, “Wings of Fire” and “Ignited Minds.” These books have been translated into almost every Indian language and have been a mirror to his thoughts, giving us insights into his life and thinking.
Early Life
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was born on 15th October 1931. He was born to a poor family in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabdeen, a boat owner and homemaker Ashiamma. Kalam went to Ramanathapuram Schwartz Matriculation School and worked from an early age, distributing newspaper so that he could support his father. He later went to St Joseph’s College, Trichy, where he became a physics graduate. Initially, he tried a career in the Indian Airforce as a fighter pilot. But the Airforce rejected the young aspirant due to a lack of vacancies. He was disappointed yet determined, in 1995 he went to Madras to further his studies. He decided to study aerospace engineering at the Madras Institute of Technology, Chennai. Kalam graduated in 1960 and decided to join as a chief scientist in Aeronautical Development and Establishment of Defense Research and Development Organization (DRD0). It was a step that took the struggling space program of India to new heights. He started his career by designing a small helicopter for the Indian Army. But he was unimpressed with his job at the DRDO. He was also a part of the INCOSPAR committee working beneath the infamous scientist, Vikram Sarabhai.
Road to Success
The Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi was impressed with his work and put him in charge of India’s Secret Missile Program. It was here that he came to be known as the “Missile Man of India” for his work on the development of ballistic missiles and launch vehicle technology. It was under his leadership that India has been able to develop Missiles like Agni, Prithvi and Tactical Missiles like Akash, Nag and Trishul. He paved the way for the subcontinent to enter the Elite Club of Nations to have the ability to design, develop and deploy long-range missiles. Between the 1970s and the 1990s, Kalam made an effort to develop the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and SLV-3 projects, both of which proved to be successful. Kalam went on to become the Scientific Adviser to the Defense Minister and Secretary of the Department of Defense Research and Development Organization Office from July 1992 to December 1999. During this period, he played a crucial role in the Pokhran 2 Nuclear Test in collaboration with the Department of Atomic Energy. By progressing multiple development tasks and mission projects such as the Light Combat Aircraft and the electronic of Air program, he made the defence system self-reliant.
Challenges
In 1969, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was transferred to Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). It was a time when India’s space program was in a bad shape. India launching its own satellite seemed just like a dream until Kalam’s team launched Rohini in 1980. Kalam was the lead in India’s efforts to enter the space club by putting the Rohini satellite in Earth’s orbit with the first indigenous SLV-3. Kalam had first started work on an expandable rocket project independently at DRDO in 1965. He received approval in 1969 and expanded the program to include more engineers. In the 1970s Kalam also directed two projects, Project Devil and Project Valiant, which sought to develop ballistic missiles from the technology of the SLV-3 program.
Failures
Dr Kalam wanted to become an air force pilot, yet he secured ninth out of the twenty-fifth rank. But, only eight candidates were to be selected, so he failed. it was his dream to become an air force pilot. While overcoming his failure, Dr Kalam said, "It is only when we are faced with failure do we realise that these resources were always there within us. We only need to find them and move on with our lives." In his book, he also recounted "staring into the pit of despair" when he failed to make it as an IAF pilot and how he pulled himself up and rose to become the man who headed India's missile programme and occupy the highest office in the country.
Achievements
Kalam was honored with the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to the field of science and technology.|Padma Vibhushan in 1990|Bharat Ratna in 1997|India’s highest civilian honor for his contribution to scientific research and modernization of defence technology|11th president of India|Earned the title of the “People’s President.”|In 2013, he was the recipient of the Von Braun Award from the National Space Society, in recognition of his excellent management and leadership in space related projects.|The state government further instituted the “Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Award”, to be awarded on Independence Day to residents of the state with achievements in promoting scientific growth, the humanities or the welfare of students.
Quotes
- A dream is not which you see while sleeping, it is something that does not let you sleep.
- If you want to shine like a sun, first burn like it.