PRESENTING

• Class :- FYEJ
• Project Name :- Project Name :- Prepare a • Institute Name :- JSPM’ RSCOEP
booklet of the interviewing any successful person • Name of students :-
in your locality in context with his life journey, 1. Samyak Shende
inspiration, social contribution, role model, and 2. Sandeep Shinde
keys to success.
3. Adesh Shirke
4. Akshay Shitole
5. Srushti Soudagar
6. Soham Surwase
7. Pratiksha Suryawanshi
8. Pravin Suthar
9. Durgesh Vispute
10. Aditi Wabale
APJ Abdul Kalam Introduction
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam ; 15 October 1931 – 27 July 2015) was an
Indian aerospace scientist and statesman who served as the 11th president of India from
2002 to 2007. Born and raised in a Muslim family in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, he
studied physics and aerospace engineering. He spent the next four decades as a
scientist and science administrator, mainly at the Defense Research and Development
Organization (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and was intimately
involved in India's civilian space programme and military missile development
efforts.[2]He thus came to be known as the Missile Man of India for his work on the
development of ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology. He also played a pivotal
organizational, technical, and political role in India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998,
the first since the original nuclear test by India in 1974.
 His Life Journey
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931, to a Tamil Muslim family in
the pilgrimage center of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency and
now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabdeen Marakayar was a boat owner
and imam of a local mosque; his mother Ashiamma was a housewife. His father owned a ferry
that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanush
Kodi.
Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one sister in his family. His ancestors had been
wealthy Marakayar traders and 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 and local women. The family business had involved trading groceries
between the mainland and the island and to and from Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims
between the mainland and Pamban. With the opening of the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in
1914, however, the businesses failed and the family fortune and properties were lost by the
1920s, apart from the ancestral home. The family was poverty-stricken by the time Kalam was
born. As a young boy he had to sell newspapers to add to the family's meager income.
 His Inspiration
Dr. APJ . Abdul Kalam, the former President f India and renowned scientist, was an
inspiration to millions due to his dedication, humility, and vision for India’s future. His life is
a testament to the power of hard work, perseverance, and a deep commitment to one’s
values. Here are few key aspects of his life and hard work that continue to inspire people :
 Visons for India’s Progress : Kalam was deeply passionate about India’s progress and its
place in the world. He believed in the potential of India’s youth and advocated for
innovation, scientist advanced, and self- reliance, especially in the fields of technology
and defense.
 Humility and Simplicity : Despite his high position as the Present and his groundbreaking
work as a scientist, Dr. Kalam remained humble and approachable. He believed in in the
importance of the maintaining a simple, disciplined life and always stayed connected to
his roots.
 Dreams and Determination : Dr. Kalam often spoke about the importance of dreaming big.
He was known for his quote, ‘’Dream, Dream, Dream. Dreams transform into thoughts,
and thoughts result in action. ’His life story, rising from a small town to become a leader
in space and defense technology, encouraged many to believe in their background.
 His Social Contribution
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam widely reversed as the ‘’Missile man of India’’ made significant contributions to both the
scientific and social spheres. His social contributions were driven by his deep commitment to national
development, education and empowerment of the underprivileged. Her are some of his notable social
contributions.:
 Advancing and Education and Inspiration: Dr. Kalam was deeply passionate about inspiring the youth of India.
Through his speeches, books, and personal interactions, he motivated millions to dream big and work hard. His
book ‘’wings of fire ‘’ became a source of inspiration, particularly for young students. He emphasized the
importance of scientific education and the role of youth in nation-building.
 Service as President : As president of India(2002-2007), Dr. Kalam remained grounded and accessible He was
known for his efforts to connect with the common people, particularly the youth . He promoted transparency in
governance , encouraging politicians and leaders to prioritize the welfare of citizens.
 Development of Indigenous Technology ; As a key figure in India's space and missile programs, Dr. Kalam played
a pivotal role in developing indigenous technologies. These advancements in aerospace and defence not only
strengthened India ‘s security but also created opportunities for technological innovation and job creation,
contributing to the nation’s overall social and economic progress.
 His Role Model
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s role model was Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the visionary
scientist and the father of the Indian space program. Dr. Sarabhai’s commitment
to using science and technology for the betterment of India deeply influenced Dr.
Kalam’s own work and philosophy. Dr. Sarabhai’s leadership, vision, and
dedication to national progress left a lasting impression on Dr. Kalam inspiring
him to dedicate his life to advancing India’s space and technology.
In addition to Dr. Sarabhai, Dr. Kalam was also inspired by the values of his
parents, especially his father, taught him the importance of honesty, integrity,
and spirituality. Dr. Kalam often spoke about the lessons he learned from his
father, including the significance of being humble and working hard with passion.

Through these influences, Dr. Kalam’s role model taught him the importance of
visionary thinking, perseverance, ethical conduct, and service to the nation, which
became central to his own life and work.
 His keys to success
 Dream Big and Set Goals : Dr. Kalam often spoke about the importance of dreaming big and setting clear,
achievable goals. He believed that dreams are the foundation of success and that individuals must work
tirelessly toward realizing their ambitions.
 Hard Work and Perseverance : For Dr. Kalam, success was the result of consistent effort and dedication.
He emphasized that talent is important, but without hard work and perseverance, one cannot achieve
greatness.
 Focus on Knowledge and Learning : Dr. Kalam was a strong advocate for lifelong learning. He often said that
knowledge is the key to success, and he encouraged young people to remain curious and continue learning,
regardless of age or circumstances.
 Integrity and Ethics : Throughout his life, Dr. Kalam maintained a strong moral compass. He believed that
integrity, honesty, and ethical conduct are essential to success. A person’s character, he said, is more
important than material success.
 Teamwork and Collaboration : Dr. Kalam understood the importance of working with others. He emphasized
that achieving great things often requires collaboration and collective effort, whether in science,
technology, or governance.
 Career as a scientist
After graduating from the Madras Institute of Technology in 1960, Kalam joined
the Aeronautical Development Establishment of the Defense Research and
Development Organization (by Press Information Bureau, Government of India)
as a scientist after becoming a member of the Defense Research &
Development Service (DRDS). He started his career by designing a
small hovercraft, but remained unconvinced by his choice of a job at DRDO
Kalam joined the INCOSPAR, working under Vikram Sarabhai, the renowned
space scientist. He was interviewed and recruited into ISRO by H. G. S. Murthy,
the first Director of Themba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS). In
1969, Kalam was transferred to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
where he was the project director of India's first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-
III) which successfully deployed the Rohini satellite in near-earth orbit in July
1980; Kalam had first started work on an expandable rocket project
independently at DRDO in 1965. In 1969, Kalam received the government's
approval and expanded the programme to include more engineers.
 Presidency
The polling for the presidential election began on 15 July 2002, in Parliament and the state assemblies, with the media
claiming that the election was a one-sided affair and Kalam's victory was a foregone conclusion; the count was held on 18
July. Kalam became the 11th president of the Republic of India in an easy victory, and moved into the Rashtrapati
Bhavan after he was sworn in on 25 July. Kalam was the third President of India to have been honored with a Bharat Ratna,
India's highest civilian honor, before becoming the President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1954) and Zakir Husain (1963) were
the earlier recipients of Bharat Ratna who later became the President of India. He was also the first scientist and the first
bachelor to occupy Rashtrapati Bhawan.
During his term as president, he was affectionately known as the People's President,[saying that signing the Office of Profit
Bill was the toughest decision he had taken during his tenure. Kalam was criticized for his inaction in deciding the fate of 20
out of the 21 mercy petitions submitted to him during his tenure.] Article 72 of the Constitution of India empowers the
President of India to grant pardons, and suspense or commute the death sentence of convicts on death row.[Kalam acted on
only one mercy plea in his five-year tenure as president, rejecting the plea of rapist Dhananjay Chatterjee, who was later
hanged. Perhaps the most notable plea was from Afzal Guru, a Kashmiri terrorist who was convicted of conspiracy in
the December 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament and was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court of India in 2004.While
the sentence was scheduled to be carried out on 20 October 2006, the pending action on his mercy plea resulted in him
remaining on death row. He also took the controversial decision to impose President's Rule in Bihar in 2005
Post-presidency
After leaving office, Kalam became a visiting
professor at the Indian Institute of Management
Shillong, the Indian Institute of Management
Ahmedabad, and the Indian Institute of Management
Indore; an honorary fellow of Indian Institute of
Science, Bangalore; chancellor of the Indian
Institute of Space Science and Technology
Thiruvananthapuram; professor of Aerospace
Engineering at Anna University; and an adjunct at
many other academic and research institutions
across India. He taught information technology at
the International Institute of Information
Technology, Hyderabad, and technology at Banaras
Hindu University and Anna University.
 Reactions
India reacted to Kalam's death with an outpouring of grief; numerous tributes were paid to
the former president across the nation and on social media. The Government of India
declared a seven-day state mourning period as a mark of respect. President Pranab
Mukherjee, Vice-president Hamid Ansari, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, and other leaders
condoled the former President's demise. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said "Kalam's death
is a great loss to the scientific community. He took India to great heights. He showed the
way. "Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who had served as prime minister under
Kalam, said, "our country has lost a great human being who made phenomenal
contributions to the promotion of self-reliance in defense technologies. I worked very
closely with Dr. Kalam as prime minister and I greatly benefited from his advice as
president of our country. His life and work will be remembered for generations to
come." ISRO chairman A. S. Kiran Kumar called his former colleague "a great personality
and a gentleman", while former chairman G. Madhavan Nair described Kalam as "a global
leader" for whom "the downtrodden and poor people were his priority. He always had a
passion to convey what is in his mind to the young generation", adding that his death left a
vacuum which none could fill.
Kalam was the youngest of five siblings, the eldest of whom was a sister, Asim Zohra (d. 1997), followed by three elder brothers: Mohammed Muthu Meera Lebbai Maraikayar (5 Nov

Memorial
The Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam National Memorial was built 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
2017. On display are the replicas of rockets and missiles
which Kalam had worked with. Acrylic paintings about his
life are also displayed along with hundreds of portraits
depicting the life of the mass leader. There is a statue of
Kalam in the entrance showing him playing the Veena.
There are two other smaller statues of the leader in
sitting and standing posture.
 Writings
I have identified five areas where India has a
core competence for integrated action: (1)
agriculture and food processing; (2) education
and healthcare; (3) information and
communication technology; (4) infrastructure,
reliable and quality electric power, surface
transport and infrastructure for all parts of
the country; and (5) self-reliance in critical
technologies. These five areas are closely
inter-related and if advanced in a coordinated
way, will lead to food, economic and national
security.
 Awards and honours
Kalam received 7 honorary doctorates from 40
universities. The Government of India honored him with
the Padma Bhushan in 1981 and the Padma Vibhushan in
1990 for his work with ISRO and DRDO and his role as a
scientific advisor to the Government. In 1997, Kalam
received India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna,
for his contribution to the scientific research and
modernization of defense technology in India. In 2008
Kalam was the recipient of Hoover Medal.[And in 2013, he
was the recipient of the Von Braun Award from
the National Space Society "to recognize excellence in
the management and leadership of a space-related
project".
 Death
On 27 July 2015, Kalam travelled to Shillong to deliver a lecture on "Creating a Livable Planet Earth" at the Indian
Institute of Management Shillong. While climbing a flight of stairs, he experienced some discomfort, but was able
to enter the auditorium after a brief rest. At around 6:35 p.m. IST, only five minutes into his lecture, he
collapsed. He was rushed to the nearby Bethany Hospital in a critical condition; upon arrival, he lacked a pulse or
any other signs of life. Despite being placed in the intensive care unit, Kalam was confirmed dead of a
sudden cardiac arrest at 7:45 p.m. IST.His last words, to his aide Srijan Pal Singh, were reportedly: "Funny guy!
Are you doing well?"
Following his death, Kalam's body was airlifted in an Indian Air Force helicopter from Shillong to Guwahati, from
where it was flown to New Delhi on the morning of 28 July in an air force C-130J Hercules. The flight landed at
Palam Air Base that afternoon and was received by the then President Pranab Mukherjee, the then Vice-
President Hamid Ansari, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal, and the three
service chiefs of the Indian Armed Forces, who laid wreaths on Kalam's body. His body was then placed on a gun
carriage draped with the Indian flag and taken to his Delhi residence at 10 Rajaji Marg; there, the public and
numerous dignitaries paid homage, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia
Gandhi and Vice-president Rahul Gandhi, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
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