Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam — How we got inspired by Missile Man of India!
“When we were kids we used to learn current affairs for preparing for the GK quizzes. That time I tried to learn a question, “Who is the president of India?” But the answer was quite difficult for me then. It was a big name, ‘Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam Azad’. That time this name was enough to inspire me as I considered it to be royal, important, and wonderful. I got inspired by the huge name that I will do something big in my life so that my name got printed on books and thus will enlighten the name of my family. Thus for me, his name itself is very inspiring. And now when I know why he was so important, We just want to remember and express how we are inspired by the Missile man of India. October 15 is celebrated as World Students Day every year across the globe. The day is marked to celebrate the birth anniversary of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. It was first celebrated in 2010 in United Nations on Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s birthday when he was 79 years old. Today we honor India’s most loved President.
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam usually referred to as A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was the 11th President of India for the term 2002 to 2007. Popularly known as the People’s President he was the chief brain behind India’s attainment of the nuclear status in the global arena and was known as the ‘Missile Man of India’ for his work on the development of ballistic missiles and space rocket technology.
An ineffaceable mark is created in the minds of millions of Indians by our “People’s President” the late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Very few eminent public figures that history has witnessed had created such a deep influence even after their demise. This magical name sends an electrical signal to every soul in our country who wants to be truly successful. He always preferred to converse with people directly instead of using the web or electronic media. He was very less aware of protocols and security measures. He loved spending quality time amongst students in various schools, colleges, and universities to interact with them and to inspire them to be better individuals when they grow up.
There are numerous experiences of people who worked by the side of this man who has been deeply motivated by his honest care, affection, and thoughtfulness. It was once, under a very tight project launch a scientist working under him requested an early leave as he was supposed to take his son to an exhibition. Engrossed in his work, it was three hours late when the scientist realized that he forgot to keep his parental duties. Going back home with a guilty heart he was amazed to know that his son was not at home. Instead, he was at his exhibition. It was Dr. Kalam, who on noticing that the scientist was not leaving his work, thought to keep his father’s promise to the child by taking him to the exhibition personally. It clearly shows how much he valued his men. Because it is men who make or breaks an organization.
Small instances like refusing to sit on a chair offered to him on a seminar at IIT Varanasi just because its size was bigger than the rest shows how much he believed in being equal. Personally sending a handwritten thank you card to a kid who sketched his portrait inspired by his book “Wings of Fire” shows how polite he was to respond and acknowledge every good and positive deed.
He was one of those respected souls in this country whose contribution to our society as a scientist, leader, and President has been most prominent. Once his terms as a President were over, Kalam visited various reverend institutes and universities present in India as their visiting professor. He loved sharing knowledge and motivating people towards the big picture of life.
World Students Day is celebrated to honor the most loved President of India who was a scientist, a teacher, an author among many other roles that he played. Dr. Kalam was born on October 15, 1931, in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu, and studied physics and aerospace engineering. He spent the next four decades as a scientist and science administrator, mainly at the DRDO and ISRO.
Dr. Kalam’s favorite job was teaching and that is how he wanted the world to remember him. His death also happened while doing what he loves the most. Dr. Kalam was delivering a lecture to the students of IIM Shillong when he fell down the stage suffering a stroke and passed away on July 27, 2015. The theme of World Students Day 2020 is “Learning for people, planet, prosperity, and peace”. This theme intends to highlight the centrality of development ambitions for our collectivity with humanitarian objectives. The day is celebrated to pay honor to the students from all across the globe for their hard work, dedication, and determination.
“Learning gives creativity
Creativity leads to thinking
Thinking provides knowledge
Knowledge makes you great.”
“Three things about kalam sir which fascinate me towards him are
1) He was a great dreamer. We also love to dream. “Dreams transform into thought and thoughts create action inspire me a lot.
2) He was a true patriot. He worked hard to make India a developed nation and serve till his breath. He said three people can bring a real change in society student, mother, teacher and he was among them.
3) He was such a kind-hearted man and had a beautiful soul. He was polite but firm. Instead of being at the top of the ladder. He never forgets his first step towards the ladder. He was a gem.”
Dr. Kalam inspires me to be a true Indian. He is the man who studied in India, researched in India, worked, and served for India.”
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