From Poverty to Presidency: The Inspiring Journey of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was lovingly called India’s missile man. His journey started from humble beginnings in Rameswaram to becoming the President of India. He rose from poverty to the highest office in the country. He was a scientist, educator, writer, and the 11th President of India. He is known for his inspirational leadership and his resilience towards becoming a better Indian. He was known to be one of the only few people who no one hated. His contribution towards science has inspired millions. In this article, we will go through Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s journey from poverty to presidency.
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam: From Poverty to Presidency
Early days of India’s Missile Man
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s success story starts from his humble background. He was born on 15 October 1931 in Rameswaram to Jainulabdeen, an imam in a local mosque and a boat owner, and to Ashiamma, a housewife. Even though his family was poor, they believed in being honest, hard-working, and disciplined. From an early age Abdul Kalam was extremely fond of reading; the idea of learning about new things was very fascinating for him. By overcoming adversity by selling newspapers at an early age, he was able to attend the Schwartz Higher Secondary School in Ramanathapuram. He was the youngest of one sister and four brothers. He later graduated in physics from St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli. He moved to Madras in 1955 to study engineering at the Madras Institute of Technology, where his life changed drastically. His dream of becoming a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force never came true as he was ninth in the eight positions available.
Career as a scientist
After the completion of his education, he joined the Defence Research and Development Organization as a scientist. During his career, he was involved in the team that designed the hovercraft for DRDO. Later on, he joined the Indian National Committee for Space Research, where he worked under Vikram Sarabhai. He was eventually recruited to the Indian Space Research Organization in 1969, where he played various crucial roles and was the project leader of India’s first satellite launch vehicle that deployed the Rohini satellite successfully in July 1980 to the Earth orbit. He became India’s missile man due to his contribution towards the development of ballistic missiles such as Agni, the long-range ballistic missile that was used to carry the nuclear warhead, and Prithvi, a short-range missile surface. Under his inspirational leadership, India conducted the Pokhran nuclear test in 1998, thus making the country a nuclear power. He was also invited by Raja Ramanna in 1974 to witness the first nuclear test, Smiling Buddha. Under his leadership, various classified projects were undertaken to promote advanced missile programs. Under his inspirational leadership, ISRO was thriving, and he became India’s missile man.
From Scientist to President
From being a popular scientist who played a crucial part in various space missions and defense projects to being one of the most beloved presidents, he had been known for overcoming adversity and challenges. He was nominated as the presidential candidate and was not only backed by the ruling party but was also backed by various opposition parties due to his inspirational leadership. From scientist to president, he became the 11th president of India by securing 922,884 electoral votes and was sworn in on 25 July 2002. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s success story can be summed up by saying he was the people’s president. During his presidency, he met various students and encouraged them to dream big. He took initiatives such as advancing India’s defense and space programs, providing urban amenities to rural areas, and encouraging youth participation in nation-building. During his tenure, he also imposed president’s rule in 2005 in Bihar due to the rising turmoil in the state. He didn’t take any decision on 20 out of the 21 mercy petitions that were submitted to him for the death penalty; on the one that he acted on, he rejected it. After the completion of his tenure, he decided not to contest for the second time due to his decision to avoid being involved in political processes.
After the Presidency
Post-presidency, he decided to return as a teacher and started teaching as a visiting professor at various universities, like IIM Shillong and the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. He became the first chancellor of the Indian Institution of Space Science and Technology at Thiruvananthapuram. He conducted various lectures for students in India and also visited China to conduct sessions at Peking University. On July 27, 2015, India’s Missile Man died while delivering a lecture at the IIM Shillong. He was always committed towards teaching and inspiring students. He wrote various books like Wings of Fire, Igniting Mind, Learning How to Fly, etc. He became one of the most beloved presidents by overcoming adversity and with sheer persistence. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s success story teaches us to be humble, honest, and resilient.
