Why was APJ Abdul Kalam known as the Missile Man ?

Kalam is a source of inspiration for millions of people in India and around the world.

A fund of 388 crores was allocated for this mission named Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).

Kalam became the President of the largest democracy of the world –India – on July 25, 2002. He was known as “the People’s President” because of his simple and down-to-earth attitude.

Prez Kalam also had a soft spot for students and children. He inspired millions of young children, answering their questions and meeting with them during his tours across the country until the day of his sad demise. He believed that the children are the future of any nation.

He developed many missiles under this mission including Agni and Prithvi.

Kalam was frisked twice at JFK Airport in New York. He was checked for explosives by the airport staff. This incident was protested by India on the international level.

ABJ Kalam served as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister  and he served as the Chief Project Coordinator of the Pokhran-II nuclear tests.

He was once asked by a journalist how would he like to be remembered: as a scientist, a president or a teacher. And he replied smilingly – “I want to be remembered as a teacher first and then as any other person.”

The massive media coverage this project got made Kalam a well known nuclear scientist.

After the term of his presidency, he became busier as a visiting professor at various institutes of management and leadership including those located at Ahmadabad, Indore, and Shillong.

Kalam wrote a great deal of poetry in Tamil, and was very fond of playing a musical instrument known as the Veena.

A fun fact about APJ Abdul Kalam is that although he was a Muslim, he was also a strict vegetarian.

APJ Abdul Kalam has received Bharat Ratna and played a major role in the testing of nuclear weapons in 1998 during the Vajpayee government.

APJ Abdul Kalam birthday: Today is the 87th birth anniversary of India’s ‘Missile Man’ and 11th President APJ Abdul Kalam.

Born on October 15, 1931, in Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram, Kalam studied Physics and aerospace engineering and worked for decades as a scientist and science administrator at DRDO and ISRO.

He is known for contributing immensely in developing India’s civilian space programme and military missile system, and is popularly known as the ‘Missile Man of India’.

During his presidency, Kalam was so beloved that people requested that he take the office again after Pratibha Patil’s term as President. However, he politely refused.

Kalam had served as the President between 2002 and 2007. Prior to this, he had in 1998 played a pivotal role in the success of the Pokhran-II nuclear test that included five detonations — one fusion bomb and four fission bombs.

Kalam is the first unmarried president and scientist in India.

This saw India becoming the sixth country in the world to have nuclear bombs and joining the nuclear club of the five world superpowers.

Kalam is among only three presidents of India who were conferred the Bharat Ratna before they were elected President.

Kalam’s life is an inspiration to many in the country. Although he was born in a poor family, his dedication and commitment towards education made him accomplish his dream.

Kalam followed only one cricketer on his Twitter account – VVS Laxman. Kalam followed a total of 38 people on this social media account.

Kalam would get up at 4:00 am to take his mathematics lessons. He would also take a bath before going to class, which was a condition imposed on all the students by the teacher.

His father was a boat rider in Rameswaram and used to ferry Hindu pilgrims from Rameswaram temple.