15 October 1931 - 27 July 2015Born on 15th October 1931 at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, specialized in Aeronautical Engineering from Madras Institute of Technology. Dr. Kalam made significant contribution as Project Director to develop India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) which successfully injected the Rohini satellite in the near earth orbit in July 1980 and made India an exclusive member of Space Club. He was responsible for the evolution of ISRO's launch vehicle programme, particularly the PSLV configuration. After working for two decades in ISRO and mastering launch vehicle technologies, Dr. Kalam took up the responsibility of developing Indigenous Guided Missiles at Defence Research and Development Organisation as the Chief Executive of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). He was responsible for the development and operationalisation of AGNI and PRITHVI Missiles and for building indigenous capability in critical technologies through networking of multiple institutions. He was the Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister and Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development from July 1992 to December 1999. During this period he led to the weaponisation of strategic missile systems and the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in collaboration with Department of Atomic Energy, which made India a nuclear weapon State. He also gave thrust to self-reliance in defence systems by progressing multiple development tasks and mission projects such as Light Combat Aircraft.
As Chairman of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) and as an eminent scientist, he led the country with the help of 500 experts to arrive at Technology Vision 2020 giving a road map for transforming India from the present developing status to a developed nation. Dr. Kalam has served as the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, in the rank of Cabinet Minister, from November 1999 to November 2001 and was responsible for evolving policies, strategies and missions for many development applications. Dr. Kalam was also the Chairman, Ex-officio, of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet (SAC-C) and piloted India Millennium Mission 2020.
Dr. Kalam took up academic pursuit as Professor, Technology & Societal Transformation at Anna University, Chennai from November 2001 and was involved in teaching and research tasks. Above all he took up a mission to ignite the young minds for national development by meeting high school students across the country.
In his literary pursuit four of Dr. Kalam's books - "Wings of Fire", "India 2020 - A Vision for the New Millennium", "My journey" and "Ignited Minds - Unleashing the power within India" have become household names in India and among the Indian nationals abroad. These books have been translated in many Indian languages.
Dr. Kalam was one of the most distinguished scientists of India with the unique honour of receiving honorary doctorates from 30 universities and institutions. He has been awarded the coveted civilian awards - Padma Bhushan (1981) and Padma Vibhushan (1990) and the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna (1997). He was a recipient of several other awards and Fellow of many professional institutions.
Dr. Kalam became the 11th President of India on 25th July 2002. His focus is on transforming India into a developed nation by 2020.
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On 27 July 2015, Dr. Kalam (aged 83) travelled to Shillong to deliver a lecture on "Creating a Livable Planet Earth" at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong. Only five minutes into his lecture, he collapsed. He was rushed to the nearby Bethany Hospital in a critical condition; upon arrival, he lacked a pulse or any other signs of life. Despite being placed in the intensive care unit, Kalam was confirmed dead of a sudden cardiac arrest at 7:45 p.m IST.
Dr. A. P. J Abdul Kalam, (People's President) was laid to rest in his hometown of Rameswaram on July 30, 2015.
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Books
Wings of FireAn Autobiography: APJ Abdul Kalam With Arun Tiwari
Published By: [2002] Universities Press(India) Private Limited
2020- A Vision for the New MillenniumAPJ Abdul Kalam With YS Rajan
Published By: [1998] Penguin Books India(Private) Limited
Envisioning an Empowered NationTechnology for Societal Transformation: APJ Abdul Kalam With A Sivathanu Pillai
Published By: Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited
Ignited MindsUnleashing The Power Within India: APJ Abdul Kalam
Published By: [2002] Penguin Books India(Private) Limited
My JourneyAPJ Abdul Kalam
Published By: [2013] V Suryanarayana Murthy
Developments in Fluid Mechanics and Space TechnologyR Narasimha & APJ Abdul Kalam
Published By: [1998] Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore.
The Luminous SparksA biography in verse and colours: APJ Abdul Kalam
Published By: [2004] Punya Publishing Private Limited
The Life TreePoems : A.P.J.Abdul Kalam
Painting illustrations by Manav Gupt
Published By: Penguin Books India (Private) Limited
Mission IndiaA Vision for Indian Youth:A.P.J. Abdul Kalam with Y.S. Rajan
Published By: [2005] Penguin Books India (Private) Limited
Children Ask KalamChildren and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Published By: Pearson Education
Guiding SoulsDialogues on the Purpose of life : A.P.J. Abdul Kalam with Arun K Tiwari
Published By: Ocean Books Pvt. Ltd.
Indomitable SpiritPublished By: Rajpal & Sons
Inspiring Thoughtsby A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Published By: [2007] Rajpal & Sons
You Are Born To Blossom: Take My Journey Beyond A P J Abdul Kalam and Arun Tiwari
Published by: [2011] Ocean Books Pvt. Ltd.
Turning Points: A journey through challenges A P J Abdul Kalam;
Published by: [2012] Harper Collins
Target 3 BillionA P J Abdul Kalam and Srijan Pal Singh
Published by: [2011] Penguin Books
A Manifesto for Change: A Sequel to India 2020A P J Abdul Kalam and V Ponraj
Published by: [2014] Harper Collins
Forge your Future: Candid, Forthright, InspiringA P J Abdul Kalam
Published by: [2014] Rajpal and Sons
Reignited: Scientific Pathways to a Brighter FutureA P J Abdul Kalam and Srijan Pal Singh
Published by: [2015] Penguin India
Transcendence: My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh SwamijiA P J Abdul Kalam with Arun Tiwari
Published by: [2015] HarperCollins
Source:
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