Remembering A.P.J. Abdul Kalam – Missile Man of India On His Sixth Death Anniversary

APJ Abdul Kalam, the former President of India passed away six years ago today while delivering a lecture at IIM Shillong. The Missile Man of our country passed away due to a cardiac arrest on July 27, 2015, leaving the nation to mourn the loss of a great and deeply loved leader. The aerospace scientist, born and raised in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu passed away at the age of 83.

Often referred to as the “People’s President” because of his down to earth nature and likeability, Dr Kalam always aimed to spread knowledge and wisdom. He also left an abundance of knowledge as his legacy in the form of his famous quotes and books.

“Winners are not those who never fail but those who never quit”. The life led by APJ Abdul Kalam is a testament to this quote which can be seen in his many achievements. From delivering newspapers as a child to the eleventh President of India and an Aerospace Engineer, Dr Kalam wrote his destiny. He played a major role in the development of Science in India. Abdul Kalam was the leader of two major science organisations of India, DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation).

He gained the title of Missile Man of India for his work on developing our country’s technology in ballistic missiles. This was a consequence of his work to develop India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle at ISRO. He played a pivotal role in India’s Pokhran- II nuclear tests in 1998 and left his mark on the world of science and aerospace engineering in our country.

Dr Kalam also proved to be an asset in politics when he was elected the President of India in 2002 with support from both the ruling (BJP) and opposition (INC) parties. He was in power until 2007, post which he devoted his life to spreading knowledge and motivating people. He was affectionate towards children and believed that they had the power to change the world.

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was conferred with seven honorary doctorates, along with several notable awards like the Padma Bhushan (1981), Padma Vibhushan (1990), and the Bharat Ratna (1997).

His legacy carries on in the form of the multiple books authored by him, the most famous being Wings of Fire, India 2020, Ignited Minds. He wrote a total of twelve books during his lifetime. All the books authored by him are an inspiration to people across generations.

The nation was saddened at his sudden demise. Dr Kalam is fondly remembered even today by thousands of people for his contribution to our country and to the legendary personality that he was. He is fondly remembered by many names, “Missile Man”, “People’s President”, and most of all, an inspirational human being.

Here is a small video about major milestones of Dr Kalam life.