Former president Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, known as People's President, passed away in Shillong on Monday.
The 84-year-old scientist, who served as the 11th president of India from 2002 to 2007, collapsed around 6.30 pm while delivering a lecture at IIM-Shillong where he was a visiting professor. Kalam was rushed to the nearby Bethany hospital where he breathed his last.
Kalam has received several prestigious awards including the nation's highest honour, the Bharat Ratna.
A devout Muslim and son of a boat-owner, Kalam, whose flowing grey hair is seen as being at odds with what Indians thought a president ought to look like, was amongst the most respected people of the country who contributed immensely both as a scientist and as a President. Acknowledged as the driving force behind India's quest for cutting-edge defence technologies, Kalam's contributions to India's satellite programmes, guided and ballistic missiles project, nuclear weapons programme and the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project made him a household name. Born in Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu on October 15, 1931, Kalam joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) after studying physics and aerospace engineering after graduating from Madras Institute of Technology.
Mainly focusing on research in defence and space arena, he later involved himself in India's missile programme. His contribution to the ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology earned him the name "Missile Man of India". Kalam played a crucial role when India tested its nuclear weapons at Pokhran in 1998 when the Vajpayee government was in power. Kalam was quoted as saying that like most of the technology he spearheaded, he himself was "Made in India", having never been trained abroad.
Kalam succeeded K R Narayanan and served a full five-year term from 2002 until 2007 after he won the presidential elections which was a highly one-sided contest with Lakshmi Sahgal, a revolutionary of the Indian Independence movement, as his rival. He secured the backing of all political parties. With his appointment, Kalam became the first scientist and first ever bachelor to occupy the Rastrapati Bhawan.
After completing school, Kalam distributed newspapers to financially contribute to his father's income. In his school years, he had average grades, but was described as a bright and hardworking student who had a strong desire to learn and spend hours on his studies, especially mathematics. He has been awarded the coveted civilian awards -- Padma Bhushan (1981) and Padma Vibhushan (1990) and the Bharat Ratna (1997). He is a recipient of several other awards and Fellow of many professional institutions. A connoisseur of Carnatic music, he would play veena during his leisure time. Four of Kalam's books Wings of Fire, and Ignited Minds - Unleashing the power within India have become household names in India.
No comments:
Post a Comment