Bharat Ratna Shri A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: The 'Real Hero' of the Common Man 

There was charisma, charm, magnetism, and an aura surrounding (Late) Bharat Ratna Shri A.P.J. Kalam. Whether it was due to his knowledge, which was as deep as an ocean, or his "reverse graduation" hairstyle, which was primarily worn to cover his one-half ear, his contagious and vivacious speeches, or his love for interacting with young students, there were plenty of reasons to love and admire Kalam. He was the 11th President of the Republic of India between 2002 and 2007, earning him the nickname "Missile Man of India."

Why are we suddenly remembering the great man? It's because Kalam passed away on this day in 2015, seven years ago. He was 83.

The influence of Kalam cut across age divisions and barriers. For every life he touched in the nation, he had something to offer. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was an aerospace scientist, author, and former president to individuals of my generation. He was much above and beyond in real life. He was a real hero who brought true meaning to phrases like honesty, simplicity, and self-discipline. He was also an inspirational speaker, writer, poet, researcher, and educationist.

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APJ Kalam was a man with remarkable characteristics, to put it briefly.

As luck would have it, Kalam was giving a lecture at the IIM Shillong when he had a stroke, collapsed from the platform, and passed away. He had a special connection with students. He was transported to the hospital but later pronounced dead. His funeral was attended by a sizable crowd, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his native Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.

Shri Kalam's birthday is observed on World Students' Day

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A.P.J. Kalam always desired to impart his life's knowledge to the following generation. Perhaps this explains why he held a special place in his heart for pupils. When he interacted with young brains and future generations or gave a guest lecture, you could see the energy, spark, smile, light, and spark on his face. He was always up for a talk, and even while serving as President of India, he managed to make time for the nation's brightest and most promising minds. He always wanted to be regarded as a teacher, which was the cause.

His love for students finds its best voice when he said, “Dream, Dream, Dream, Dreams transform into thoughts. And thoughts result in action.” He had also further said, to students, “If you fail, never give up because FAIL means ‘first attempt in learning.”

He notably stated that teachers are the architects of society and that society can only be constructed when pupils are rendered adept in their subjects in his 2006 Presidential address, which was given at the distribution of national awards to teachers. He continued by saying that they must also instil the core moral principles that pupils should uphold throughout their lives.

He was referred to as "the People's President." Millions of individuals have been influenced by Dr. Kalam's ideology of "simple living and elevated thinking." So, each year, World Students' Day is observed on his birthday.

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam gave us many valuable lessons. He taught us to fight harder and to be more resilient. He also taught us that you must first burn like a sun in order to shine like one. He also taught us that before your dreams can come true, you must first dream. And in life, succeeding is more essential than winning. All eventually fail, but it doesn't spell the end. You must be tenacious enough to persist in your efforts and achieve success. and you'll be successful.

For Kalam, attitude was the deciding factor. The Missile Man of India never gave up despite all the difficulties he encountered in life. Although his family's financial position was not perfect, he was interested in education and wanted to learn new things. In order to support his family, he made the decision to become a hawker and start throwing newspapers early in the morning.

Shri Kalam's thirst for education was so great that he graduated from St. Joseph's College in 1954 with a bachelor's in science and from Madras Institute of Technology with a master's in aeronautical engineering in 1957.

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Due to Kalam's constant pursuit of a solution, no challenge could stop him. He once said:

“All birds find shelter during rain. But the eagle avoids rain by flying above the clouds. Problems are common, but attitude makes the difference!”

Dr. Kalam served as an aerospace engineer for DRDO and ISRO prior to being elected president. He was referred to as the "Missile Man of India" since he was in charge of creating and putting the Agni and Prithvi missiles into service.

India's first satellite launch vehicle, SLV III, which was used to place the Rohini satellite into orbit around the Earth, was developed under Kalam's supervision. As a result of this achievement, India became a member of the space club. Dr. Kalam worked at ISRO for more than 10 years as the project director for the creation of the homegrown satellite launch vehicle, which led to revolutionary scientific advancement.

After working for ISRO for 20 years, he was also given the responsibility of developing homegrown guided missiles at the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).

Projects Devil and Valiant, which aimed to create ballistic missiles utilising the technology underlying the successful SLV programme, were led by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Several missiles, including the surface-to-surface PRITHVI and the intermediate-range ballistic missile AGNI, were created with Kalam's direction.

For seven years, from 1992 to 1999, Kalam served as both the DRDO Secretary and the Chief Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister.

Shri Kalam and doctor Soma Raju collaborated to create the "Kalam-Raju Stent," a coronary stent that is affordable and contributes to universal access to healthcare.

(Photo Credit: Twitter)

Kalam was responsible for organising the Pokhran-II nuclear tests, which propelled India into the exclusive group of nuclear powers together with the US, China, the UK, France, and Russia.

Though he is deserving of no praise, Kalam was the inspiration for John Abraham's 2018 movie "Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran."

Awards and Recognitions

He received honorary degrees from 48 Indian and international universities and organisations. Kalam was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1981, the Padma Vibhushan in 1990, and the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour (1997).

Dr. Kalam's contagious personality has inspired people all over the world, not just Indians. Switzerland celebrates Kalam's visit to the country on May 26th as Science Day.

Why should we remember Kalam?

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Whether he was a Bharat Ratna, a former Indian president, or a brilliant scientist who made India a global player in the field of space research, Shri Kalam is remembered for a number of motivating reasons.

Shri Kalam is the perfect example of what it means to be a simple and humble person in the present age, where comfort and pleasures have become an integral part of human life. Can you picture the president of the nation answering questions from reporters and audience members while perched on the edge of the stage and smiling?

Shri Kalam had once famously said - “When I am dead, do not declare a holiday. Instead, work a day extra.”

Even in his last desire, he made sure to motivate the nation's people to work even harder so that India might reach new heights. He was a true visionary who devoted his entire life to serving his nation and its citizens, particularly students.

His message, particularly to young people, was straightforward: have the guts to think creatively, to invent, to forge new paths, to confront impossibilities, to overcome obstacles, and to triumph.

A.P.J. Kalam had zero haters, which simply goes to show how he was still respected and missed today.

This is why an icon like Kalam makes us shout out loud — Kalam Tujhe Salaam!

You will always have a special place in our hearts. Dr. Kalam's empty chair will never be filled, but his motivational words will go on and push us to accomplish more.

You are my hero today, tomorrow, and always, Shri Kalam.

Missile Man, RIP. We continue to miss you.

(The author, who has been a journalist for ten years, enjoys writing about role models in the hopes of motivating future generations. He loves to spend time with his family and is an avid sports fan.)