MEMORIES OF ABDUL KALAM..................

Childhood & Early Life

 

• A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was born to Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma on October 15, 1931. He came from a family whose financial conditions weren’t sound enough. As a means to support his family’s meagre income, Kalam took up odd jobs in his childhood but never gave up on his education.

• He graduated from Saint Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli in 1954 but not satisfied with his degree, he left for Madras later next year to study aerospace engineering. He enrolled at the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT).

                                                                      Career

 • After graduating from MIT, Kalam took up the position of chief scientist at the Aeronautical Development Establishment of Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). However, the profile didn’t appeal Kalam much who shifted to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) where he was the project director of India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle.

• His years at the ISRO were the most crucial ones, as they left a lasting impact on him. Kalam lead many projects and turned out to be successful each time.

• Kalam succeeded K. R. Narayan to serve as the 11th President of India from 2002 until 2007. It was a highly one-sided contest. With his appointment, Kalam became the first scientist and first ever bachelor to occupy the Rastrapati Bhawan.

• During his tenure as a President, Kalam was both appreciated and criticised. The latter was mostly due to his inaction in deciding the fate of 20 mercy petitioners.

• In addition to all the profiles that Dr Kalam held, he authored numerous influential and inspirational books. Amongst all his books, “India 2020” was the widely read and appreciated one. It forecast an action plan which advocated India turning into a knowledge superpower and as one of the developed nations of the world by the year 2020. His other books include, “Ignited Minds”, “Mission India”, “Inspiring Thoughts” and “The Luminous Sparks”.

 

 

 

Top 10 Facts You Did Not Know About A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

• A.P.J. Abdul Kalam grew up in poverty and distributed newspapers as a young boy to contribute to his father’s meager income.

• He was a protégé of the great Indian scientist Dr. Vikram Sarabhai who guided him and gave him valuable advice.

• He always faced the press following failed tests at ISRO and accepted responsibility for his mistakes but never claimed the credit for any of the massive successes achieved at the organization.

• He was the first bachelor to become the president and occupy Rashtrapati Bhawan.

• Kalam was the third President of India to have been honored with a Bharat Ratna before being elected to the office of President

• He was known to write his own thank you cards with personalized messages in his own handwriting.

• He was a scholar of Thirukkural (a classic of couplets or Kurals) and was known to quote at least one couplet in most of his speeches.

• He had a keen interest in literature and wrote poems in his native Tamil.

• A practicing Muslim, he was also well versed with Hindu traditions and read the Bhagavad Gita.

• He had more than a million followers on Twitter but followed only 38 people

 

 

 

 

          QUOTES OF ABUDUL KALAM