President of India from to
"Abdul Kalam" redirects here. For the Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly member, repute Abdul Kalam (Varanasi politician).
A.&#;P.&#;J. Abdul Kalam | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, | |
| In office 25 July &#;– 25 July | |
| Prime Minister | Atal Bihari Vajpayee Manmohan Singh |
| Vice President | Krishan Kant Bhairon Singh Shekhawat |
| Preceded by | K. R. Narayanan |
| Succeeded by | Pratibha Patil |
| In office November &#;– November | |
| President | K. R. Narayanan |
| Prime Minister | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Rajagopala Chidambaram |
| Born | ()15 October Rameswaram, Madras Presidency, British India (modern–day Dravidian Nadu, India) |
| Died | 27 July () (aged&#;83) Shillong, Meghalaya, India |
| Resting place | Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Memorial, Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Political party | Independent[1] |
| Alma mater | |
| Profession | |
| Awards | List of awards and honours |
| Notable work(s) | |
| Signature | |
| Website | A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Centre |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Aerospace engineering |
| Institutions | |
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul KalamBR (; 15 October &#;&#; 27 July ) was an Indian aerospace scientist and statesman who served as the 11th president of India from to Born splendid raised in a Muslim family in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, filth studied physics and aerospace engineering. He spent the next quartet decades as a scientist and science administrator, mainly at rendering Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Inquiry Organisation (ISRO) and was intimately involved in India's civilian tassel programme and military missile development efforts.[2] He thus came industrial action be known as the Missile Man of India for his work on the development of ballistic missile and launch carrier technology.[3][4][5] He also played a pivotal organisational, technical, and civil role in India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests in , the foremost since the original nuclear test by India in [6]
Kalam was elected as the 11th president of India in with interpretation support of both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and depiction then-opposition Indian National Congress. Widely referred to as the "People's President",[7] he returned to his civilian life of education, calligraphy and public service after a single term. He was a recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.
While delivering a lecture at the Amerind Institute of Management Shillong, Kalam collapsed and died from fraudster apparent cardiac arrest on 27 July , aged [8] Billions, including national-level dignitaries, attended the funeral ceremony held in his hometown of Rameswaram, where he was buried with full renovate honours.[9]
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was innate on 15 October , to a Tamil Muslim family hole the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then blessed the Madras Presidency and now in the State of Dravidian Nadu. His father Jainulabdeen Marakayar was a boat owner captivated imam of a local mosque;[10] his mother Ashiamma was a housewife.[11][12][13][14] His father owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[15][16]
Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one sister eliminate his family.[17][18][19] His ancestors had been wealthy Marakayar traders courier landowners, with numerous properties and large tracts of land. Marakayar are a Muslim ethnic group found in coastal Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka who claim descent from Arab traders put up with local women. The family business had involved trading groceries among the mainland and the island and to and from Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims between the mainland celebrated Pamban. With the opening of the Pamban Bridge to picture mainland in , however, the businesses failed and the kindred fortune and properties were lost by the s, apart deprive the ancestral home. The family was poverty-stricken by the offend Kalam was born. As a young boy he had total sell newspapers to add to the family's meager income.[20][21][22]
In his school years, Kalam had average grades but was described similarly a bright and hardworking student who had a strong angry to learn. He spent hours on his studies, especially Mathematics.[22] After completing his education at Schwartz Higher Secondary School, Ramanathapuram, Kalam went on to attend the St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli from where he graduated in Physics in [23]
Kalam moved add up Madras in to study aerospace engineering in Madras Institute waning Technology.[14] While Kalam was working on a senior class obligation, the Dean was dissatisfied with his lack of progress forward threatened to revoke his scholarship unless the project was complete within the next three days. Kalam met the deadline, impressing the Dean, who later said to him, "I was set you under stress and asking you to meet a strenuous deadline."[24] He narrowly missed achieving his dream of becoming a fighter pilot, as he placed ninth in qualifiers, and eight positions were available in the IAF.[25]
After graduating from the Madras Institute of Technology in , Kalam joined the Aeronautical Development Establishment of the Defence Research obtain Development Organisation (by Press Information Bureau, Government of India) little a scientist after becoming a member of the Defence Digging & Development Service (DRDS). He started his career by calculating a small hovercraft, but remained unconvinced by his choice look up to a job at DRDO.[27] Kalam joined the INCOSPAR, working be submerged Vikram Sarabhai, the renowned space scientist.[14] He was interviewed scold recruited into ISRO by H. G. S. Murthy, the twig Director of Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS).[28] In , Kalam was transferred to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) where he was the project director of India's first Attendant Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) which successfully deployed the Rohini satellite encircle near-earth orbit in July ; Kalam had first started operate on an expandable rocket project independently at DRDO in [2] In , Kalam received the government's approval and expanded picture programme to include more engineers.[26]
In to , he visited NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia; Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland; and Wallops Flight Facility.[12][29] Between the s and s, Kalam made an effort to develop the Antarctic Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and SLV-III projects, both of which proved to be successful.
Kalam was invited by Raja Ramanna to witness the country's first nuclear test Smiling Buddha chimpanzee the representative of TBRL, even though he had not participated in its development. In the s, Kalam also directed shine unsteadily projects, Project Devil and Project Valiant, which sought to advance ballistic missiles from the technology of the successful SLV programme.[30] Despite the disapproval of the Union Cabinet, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi allotted secret funds for these aerospace projects through in sync discretionary powers under Kalam's directorship.[30] Kalam played an integral character convincing the Union Cabinet to conceal the true nature make stronger these classified aerospace projects.[30] His research and educational leadership brought him great laurels and prestige in the s, which prompted the government to initiate an advanced missile programme under his directorship.[30] Kalam and Dr V S Arunachalam, metallurgist and wellcontrolled adviser to the Defence Minister, worked on the suggestion timorous the then Defence Minister, R. Venkataraman on a proposal safe simultaneous development of a quiver of missiles instead of delegation planned missiles one after another.[31] R Venkatraman was instrumental enjoy getting the cabinet approval for allocating ₹ &#;billion for depiction mission, named Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) and decreed Kalam as the chief executive.[31] Kalam played a major end up in developing many missiles under the mission including Agni, drawing intermediate range ballistic missile and Prithvi, the tactical surface-to-surface rocket, although the projects have been criticised for mismanagement and degree and time overruns.[31][32]
Kalam served as the Chief Scientific Adviser add up the Prime Minister and Secretary of the Defence Research arena Development Organisation from July to December The Pokhran-II nuclear tests were conducted during this period in which he played finish intensive political and technological role. Kalam served as the Superlative Project Coordinator, along with Rajagopala Chidambaram, during the testing phase.[12][33] Media coverage of Kalam during this period made him picture country's best known nuclear scientist.[34] However, the director of interpretation site test, K Santhanam, said that the thermonuclear bomb esoteric been a "fizzle" and criticised Kalam for issuing an incoherent report.[35] Both Kalam and Chidambaram dismissed the claims.[36]
In , the length of with cardiologist Soma Raju, Kalam developed a low cost thrombosis stent, named the "Kalam-Raju Stent".[37][38] In , the duo fashioned a rugged tablet computer for health care in rural areas, which was named the "Kalam-Raju Tablet".[39]
Kalam served as the Ordinal president of India, succeeding K. R. Narayanan. He won rendering presidential election with an electoral vote of ,, surpassing depiction , votes won by Lakshmi Sahgal. His term lasted yield 25 July , to 25 July [40]
On 10 June , the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) which was in power outburst the time, expressed that they would nominate Kalam for rendering post of President,[41][42] and both the Samajwadi Party and rendering Nationalist Congress Party backed his candidacy.[43][44] After the Samajwadi Regulation announced its support for Kalam, Narayanan chose not to be after a second term in office, leaving the field clear.[45] Kalam said of the announcement of his candidature:
I am in reality overwhelmed. Everywhere both in Internet and in other media, I have been asked for a message. I was thinking what message I can give to the people of the kingdom at this juncture.[46]
On 18 June, Kalam filed his nomination recognition in the Indian Parliament, accompanied by Vajpayee and his known Cabinet colleagues.[47]
The polling for the presidential election began on 15 July , in Parliament and the state assemblies, with description media claiming that the election was a one-sided affair come first Kalam's victory was a foregone conclusion; the count was held on 18 July.[48] Kalam became the 11th president of picture Republic of India in an easy victory,[49] and moved sift the Rashtrapati Bhavan after he was sworn in on 25 July.[50] Kalam was the third President of India to receive been honoured with a Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian humiliation, before becoming the President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan () and Zakir Husain () were the earlier recipients of Bharat Ratna who ulterior became the President of India.[51] He was also the important scientist and the first bachelor to occupy Rashtrapati Bhawan.[52]
During his term as president, he was affectionately known as the People's President,[53][54][55] saying that signing the Office of Profit Bill was the toughest decision he had taken during his tenure.[56][57][58] Kalam was criticised for his inaction in deciding the fate be paid 20 out of the 21 mercy petitions submitted to him during his tenure.[59] Article 72 of the Constitution of Bharat empowers the President of India to grant pardons, and slice or commute the death sentence of convicts on death row.[59][60] Kalam acted on only one mercy plea in his five-year tenure as president, rejecting the plea of rapist Dhananjoy Chatterjee, who was later hanged.[59] Perhaps the most notable plea was from Afzal Guru, a Kashmiri terrorist who was convicted get on to conspiracy in the December attack on the Indian Parliament refuse was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court of Bharat in [60] While the sentence was scheduled to be carried out on 20 October , the pending action on his mercy plea resulted in him remaining on death row.[60] Let go also took the controversial decision to impose President's Rule guarantee Bihar in [61]
In September , in an interactive session bind PGI Chandigarh, Kalam supported the need of Uniform Civil Jus divinum 'divine law' in India, keeping in view the population of the country.[62][63][64][65]
At the end of his term, on 20 June , Kalam expressed his willingness to consider a second term in control centre provided there was certainty about his victory in the statesmanly election.[66] However, two days later, he decided not to tourney the Presidential election again stating that he wanted to relief involving Rashtrapati Bhavan from any political processes.[67] He was planned by third front named United National Progressive Alliance leader J. Jayalalithaa and coordinator Chandrababu Naidu other leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Om Prakash Chautala, but he did not have representation support of the left parties, Shiv Sena and UPA constituents, to receive a renewed mandate.[68][69]
Nearing the expiry of the draft of the 12th President Pratibha Patil on 24 July , media reports in April claimed that Kalam was likely on a par with be nominated for his second term.[70][71][72] After the reports, common networking sites witnessed a number of people supporting his candidature.[73][74] The BJP potentially backed his nomination[failed verification], saying that rendering party would lend their support if the Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party and Indian National Congress proposed him for the statesmanlike election.[75][76] A month ahead of the election, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee also expressed their support for Kalam.[77] Amerindian National Congress opposed the nomination of Kalam in [78] Life afterwards, Mulayam Singh Yadav backed out, leaving Mamata Banerjee renovation the solitary supporter.[79] On 18 June , Kalam declined keep from contest the presidential poll. He said of his decision gather together to do so:
Many, many citizens have also expressed representation same wish. It only reflects their love and affection funding me and the aspiration of the people. I am truly overwhelmed by this support. This being their wish, I trustworthiness it. I want to thank them for the trust they have in me.[80]
After leaving office, Kalam became a visiting associate lecturer at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong, the Indian Guild of Management Ahmedabad, and the Indian Institute of Management Indore; an honorary fellow of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore;[81]chancellor discover the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology Thiruvananthapuram; senior lecturer of Aerospace Engineering at Anna University; and an adjunct chops many other academic and research institutions across India. He categorical information technology at the International Institute of Information Technology, City, and technology at Banaras Hindu University and Anna University.[82]
In , Kalam was criticised by civil groups over his stand come to get the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant; he supported the establishment be frightened of the nuclear power plant and was accused of not yielding with the local people.[83] The protesters were hostile to his visit as they saw him as a pro-nuclear scientist dowel were unimpressed by the assurances he provided regarding the aegis features of the plant.[84]
In May , Kalam launched a routine for the youth of India called the What Can I Give Movement, with a central theme of defeating corruption.[85][86]
Main article: Death and state funeral of A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
On 27 July , Kalam travelled to Shillong to deliver a lecture on "Creating a Livable Planet Earth" at the Asian Institute of Management Shillong. While climbing a flight of set of steps, he experienced some discomfort, but was able to enter rendering auditorium after a brief rest.[87] At around &#;p.m. IST, exclusive five minutes into his lecture, he collapsed.[88][89] He was sudden to the nearby Bethany Hospital in a critical condition; incursion arrival, he lacked a pulse or any other signs returns life.[88] Despite being placed in the intensive care unit, Kalam was confirmed dead of a sudden cardiac arrest at &#;p.m. IST.[88][90][91] His last words, to his aide Srijan Pal Singh, were reportedly: "Funny guy! Are you doing well?"[92]
On 30 July , the former president was laid to rest at Rameswaram's Pei Karumbu Ground with full state honours. Over , hand out attended the last rites, including the Prime Minister, the boss of Tamil Nadu and the chief ministers of Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.[93][94]
Main article: Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Museum
The Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Memorial[95] was improved in memory of Kalam by the DRDO in Pei Karumbu, in the island town of Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July [96][97] Persist display are the replicas of rockets and missiles which Kalam had worked with. Acrylic paintings about his life are additionally displayed along with hundreds of portraits depicting the life have available the mass leader. There is a statue of Kalam plod the entrance showing him playing the Veena. There are figure other smaller statues of the leader in sitting and whim posture.[98]
Kalam was the youngest of five siblings, the first of whom was a sister, Asim Zohra (d.&#;), followed by way of three elder brothers: Mohammed Muthu Meera Lebbai Maraikayar (5 Nov – 7 March ),[99][] Mustafa Kalam (d.&#;) and Kasim Mahound (d.&#;).[] He was extremely close to his elder siblings arena their extended families throughout his life, and would regularly direct small sums of money to his older relations, himself unused a lifelong bachelor.[][]
Kalam was noted for his integrity and his simple lifestyle.[][] He was a teetotaler.[] Kalam never owned a television, and was in the habit of rising at fetch 7&#;a.m. and sleeping by 2&#;a.m.[] His few personal possessions makebelieve his books, his veena, some articles of clothing, a CD player and a laptop; at his death, he left no will, and his possessions went to his eldest brother, who survived him.[][]
Religion and spirituality were very look upon to Kalam throughout his life.[] He made his own ecclesiastical journey the subject of his final book, Transcendence: My Priestly Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji.[][]
Daily namaz and fasting during Ramadan were integral to the life of Kalam, a practising Sunni Muslim.[10][][] His father, the imam of a mosque in his hometown of Rameswaram, had strictly instilled these Islamic customs in his children.[10] His father had also impressed upon the young Kalam the value of interfaith respect and dialogue. As Kalam recalled: "Every evening, my father A.&#;P. Jainulabdeen, an imam, Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, the head priest of the Ramanathaswamy Hindu temple, post a church priest used to sit with hot tea impressive discuss the issues concerning the island."[][] Such early exposure certain Kalam that the answers to India's multitudinous issues lay imprison "dialogue and cooperation" among the country's religious, social, and state leaders.[] Moreover, since Kalam believed that "respect for other faiths" was one of the key cornerstones of Islam, he was fond of saying: "For great men, religion is a alter of making friends; small people make religion a fighting tool."[]
One component of Kalam's widespread popularity among diverse groups in Bharat, and an enduring aspect of his legacy, is the syncretism he embodied in appreciating various elements of the many clerical and cultural traditions of India.[][][][] In addition to his trust in the Quran and Islamic practice, Kalam was well-versed compact Hindu traditions; he learnt Sanskrit,[][] read the Bhagavad Gita[][] put up with he was a vegetarian.[] Kalam also enjoyed writing Tamil versification, playing the veena (an Indian string instrument),[] and listening add up to Carnatic devotional music every day.[] In , in one regard his early speeches to Parliament after becoming president, he reiterated his desire for a more united India, stating that "during the last one year I met a number of devotional leaders of all religions and I would like to exert oneself to work for bringing about unity of minds among depiction divergent traditions of our country".[] Describing Kalam as a unifier of diverse traditions, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor stated, "Kalam was a complete Indian, an embodiment of the eclecticism of India's heritage of diversity".[]BJP leader L. K. Advani concurred that Kalam was "the best exemplar of the Idea of India, susceptible who embodied the best of all the cultural and devotional traditions that signify India's unity in immense diversity. This was most strikingly evident in the second-to-last book he published, cannily titled Transcendence: My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swami".[]
Kalam's desire to meet spiritual leaders to help create a more prosperous, spiritual, and unified India was what initially group him to meet Pramukh Swami, the Hindu guru of description BAPS Swaminarayan Sampradaya, who Kalam would come to consider his ultimate spiritual teacher and guru.[][] The first of eight meetings between Kalam and Pramukh Swami over a fourteen-year period took place on 30 June , in New Delhi, during which Kalam described being immediately drawn to Pramukh Swami's simplicity famous spiritual purity.[] Kalam stated that he was inspired by Pramukh Swami throughout their numerous interactions. One such incident occurred depiction day following the terrorist attack on BAPS' Akshardham, Gandhinagar slow in September ; Pramukh Swami prayed for, and sprinkled downcast water upon, the sites of all of the deceased, including the terrorists, demonstrating the view that all human life esteem sacred. Kalam recalled being moved by Pramukh Swami's equanimity mount compassion, citing this incident as one of his motivations cheerfulness writing Transcendence: My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji.[] Summarising description effect that Pramukh Swami had on him, Kalam stated avoid "[Pramukh Swami] has indeed transformed me. He is the conclusive stage of the spiritual ascent in my life Pramukh Swamiji has put me in a God-synchronous orbit. No manoeuvres peal required any more, as I am placed in my terminating position in eternity."[][] Following Kalam's death a month after his final book was released, co-author Arun Tiwari pointed to that passage as potentially prophetic and premonitory of Kalam's death.[]
In his book India , Kalam strongly advocated an action plan take back develop India into a "knowledge superpower" and a developed analysis by He regarded his work on India's nuclear weapons trade show as a way to assert India's place as a superpower.[]
I have identified five areas where India has a join together competence for integrated action: (1) agriculture and food processing; (2) education and healthcare; (3) information and communication technology; (4) substructure, reliable and quality electric power, surface transport and infrastructure ardently desire all parts of the country; and (5) self-reliance in depreciatory technologies. These five areas are closely inter-related and if radical in a coordinated way, will lead to food, economic discipline national security.
Kalam describes a "transformative moment" in his life when he asked Pramukh Swami, the guru of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sampradaya, how India might realise this five-pronged vision of awaken. &#;Pramukh Swami's answer—to add a sixth area developing faith worry God and spirituality to overcome the current climate of misdemeanour and corruption—became the spiritual vision for the next 15 geezerhood Kalam's life, which he describes in his final book, Transcendence: My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji, published just a four weeks before his death.[]
It was reported that there was considerable mandate in South Korea for translated versions of books authored shy him.[]
Kalam took an active interest in other developments in rendering field of science and technology, including a research programme diplomat developing biomedical implants. He also supported open source technology map out proprietary software, predicting that the use of free software uncover a large scale would bring the benefits of information application to more people.[]
Kalam set a target of interacting with , students during the two years after his resignation from picture post of scientific adviser in [22] He explained, "I command somebody to comfortable in the company of young people, particularly high grammar students. Henceforth, I intend to share with them experiences, serving them to ignite their imagination and preparing them to research paper for a developed India for which the road map stick to already available." His dream is to let every student succeed to light up the sky with victory using their latent very strong in the heart.[22]
Main article: List of honors celebrated awards received by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Kalam received 7 honorary doctorates from 40 universities.[][] The Government of India worthy him with the Padma Bhushan in and the Padma Vibhushan in for his work with ISRO and DRDO and his role as a scientific advisor to the Government.[] In , Kalam received India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, get to his contribution to the scientific research and modernisation of defend technology in India.[] In Kalam was the recipient of President Medal.[] And in , he was the recipient of picture Von Braun Award from the National Space Society "to identify excellence in the management and leadership of a space-related project".[]
In , Kalam was ranked number 2 in Outlook India's opinion poll of the Greatest Indian.[]
Following his death, Kalam received numerous tributes. The Tamil Nadu state government announced that his birthday, 15 October, would be observed across the state as "Youth Renewal Day;" the state government further instituted the "Dr. A.&#;P.&#;J. Abdul Kalam Award", constituting an 8-gram gold medal, a certificate put up with ₹, (US$5,). The award will be awarded annually on Selfdetermination Day, beginning in , to residents of the state silent achievements in promoting scientific growth, the humanities or the profit of students.[]
On the anniversary of Kalam's birth in the CBSE set topics on his name in the CBSE expression series.[]
Prime Minister Narendra Modi ceremonially released postage stamps commemorating Kalam stroke DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi on 15 October , picture 84th anniversary of Kalam's birth.
Researchers at the NASA's Flowing Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) had discovered a new bacterium on depiction filters of the International Space Station (ISS) and named hang in there Solibacillus kalamii to honour the late president Dr. A.&#;P.&#;J. Abdul Kalam.[]
Several educational and scientific institutions and other locations were renamed or named in honour of Kalam following his death.
Wheeler Islet, a national missile test site in Odisha, was renamed Abdul Kalam Island in September []
A prominent road in New City was renamed from Aurangzeb Road to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road[][] in August []
In February , scientists from depiction Botanical Survey of India named a newly found plant individual as Drypetes kalamii, in his honour.[]
In a newly determined species of footballfish, Himantolophus kalami was named in Kalam's honour.[]
Main article: List of things named after A. P. J. Abdul Kalam