A.P.J.

Abdul Kalam (born October 15, 1931, Rameswaram, India—died July 27, 2015, Shillong)
Indian scientist and politician who played a leading role in the development of India’s missile
and nuclear weapons programs. He was president of India from 2002 to 2007.

Kalam earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from the Madras Institute of Technology and
in 1958 joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In 1969 he
moved to the Indian Space Research Organisation, where he was project director of the SLV-III,
the first satellite launch vehicle that was both designed and produced in India. Rejoining DRDO
in 1982, Kalam planned the program that produced a number of successful missiles, which
helped earn him the nickname “Missile Man.” Among those successes was Agni, India’s first
intermediate-range ballistic missile, which incorporated aspects of the SLV-III and was launched
in 1989.

From 1992 to 1997 Kalam was scientific adviser to the defense minister, and he later served as
principal scientific adviser (1999–2001) to the government with the rank of cabinet minister. His
prominent role in the country’s 1998 nuclear weapons tests solidified India as a nuclear power
and established Kalam as a national hero, although the tests caused great concern in the
international community. In 1998 Kalam put forward a countrywide plan called Technology
Vision 2020, which he described as a road map for transforming India from a less-developed to
a developed society in 20 years. The plan called for, among other measures, increasing
agricultural productivity, emphasizing technology as a vehicle for economic growth, and
widening access to health care and education.

Kalam wrote several books, including an autobiography, Wings of Fire (1999). Among his
numerous awards were two of the country’s highest honours, the Padma Vibhushan (1990) and
the Bharat Ratna (1997).

Education is a central issue in the complex process of development as it is related with each
and every aspect of
development. Any society needs a good amount of education to make progress. Thus, the
importance of education is quite clear.
Education is necessary to know how to put potentials of people to maximum use. It can safely
be said that a human being is not a
human being in the proper sense until he is educated. Science is also a powerful source of
understanding like education. The ways
of studying are always improved through science. Science means knowledge and it has two
objectives to enable men to do and to
know. Science has evolved out of philosophy, culture, mythology and religion. In the past
science has remained a pursuit of the
learned but more recently, it has become an important factor in determining the everyday life of
the common person. The western
concept of education emphasizes on political service including political leadership. It is more
materialistic than spiritualistic.
Western thinkers give their ideas in a materialistic way. Western thinkers have put a heavy
emphasis on science and introduction of
scientific method in education. Indian concept of education is not materialistic like the West. It is
the birthplace of many religions.
Religion always preaches humans for self-realization that is why the main objective of education
in India has always been man-
making who is capable of self-realization. They want self-reliance in the area of science but they
want scientists to become rational
for advancement of humanity as science creates an equal harm for every benefit it creates.
Among the present time thinkers, one
name that commands much respect is Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. The story of the former president
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam is the
story of an extraordinary person of great significance. He has become a role model for the
techno scientific students and
professionals. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam emphasizes the use of science and technology in the day
to day life so that India could
emerge as a progressive and technologically advanced nation. The educational thoughts of Dr.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam are of great
significance in the present educational system. He says that the purpose of education is the
creation of enlightened citizens and
education in its real sense is the pursuit of truth. In Dr. Kalam’s view, an education that does not
teach man something deeper than
the mere knowledge of textbooks, is completely worthless. If our education does not make us
good men and women, it is of novalue. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is a man who has the dream of
making India a developed nation. He has provided a vision to every
Indian who has the same dream for this nation- a vision that will help to fulfill this great dream.
Dr. Kalam has spoken on every
issue and theme of national concern but the researchers have chosen his educational and
scientific thoughts and have tried to
evaluate the extent of practicability of his educational and scientific thoughts in present
educational system. The educational and
scientific thoughts of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam are of great importance in present times as he says
that India can gain the status of a developed nation only with advancement in education and
science.

Educational Philosophy of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

CONCEPT OF EDUCATION
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam says that:
Education in its real sense is the pursuit of truth.
Education is a journey of knowledge and enlightenment so there is no scope for pettiness,
disharmony, jealousy, hatred
or enmity.
Education transforms a human being into a wholesome whole, a noble soul and an asset to the
universe.
 Education is all about forming beautiful minds that are creative.
The parents give to their children their physical birth. The second birth is the process of
education.
The primary purpose of education in the present time is to guide the child to discover his true
self and his world. Just as each seed
contains the future tree, each child is born with infinite potential. A good education system is
fundamental to a nation that wants
to be independent in each sense. India still has a long way to go to reach this goal. Dr. Kalam
has given such educational
thoughts, which take into account the present educational problems and future perspectives of
education in India so his thoughts
about education are relevant to the present education system.

In 1963 to 1964, he visited NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia; Goddard
Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland; and Wallops Flight Facility. Between the 1970s and
1990s, Kalam made an effort to develop the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and SLV-III
projects, both of which proved to be successful.

Kalam served as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister and Secretary of the Defence
Research and Development Organisation from July 1992 to December 1999. The Pokhran-II
nuclear tests were conducted during this period in which he played an intensive political and
technological role. Kalam served as the Chief Project Coordinator, along with Rajagopala
Chidambaram, during the testing phase. Media coverage of Kalam during this period made him
the country's best known nuclear scientist.However, the director of the site test, K Santhanam,
said that the thermonuclear bomb had been a "fizzle" and criticized Kalam for issuing an
incorrect report.Both Kalam and Chidambaram dismissed the claims.

In 1998, along with cardiologist Soma Raju, Kalam developed a low cost coronary stent, named
the "Kalam-Raju Stent".In 2012, the duo designed a rugged tablet computer for health care in
rural areas, which was named the "Kalam-Raju Tablet".

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Dr APJ Abdul Kalam's 5 contributions in India's space and nuclear technology:

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam's 5 contributions in India's space and nuclear technology
BySingh Rahul Sunilkumar
Jul 27, 2022 01:01 PM IST
Cricket Page
“When I am dead, do not declare a holiday; instead work a day extra”, Kalam said. Here we
remember his contribution in developing scientific temperament in India.

India remembers former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on his seventh death anniversary. On
this day in 2015, the ‘Missile Man of India’ breathed his last after he suffered cardiac arrest while
delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong.

Nation remembers former President of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam on his death anniversary.
(Representational Image)(Satyabrata Tripathy/HT Photo)
“When I am dead, do not declare a holiday; instead work a day extra”, he said. Here we
remember his contribution to the field of technology.

Father of India’s own Satellite Launch Vehicle

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.
In the very first year of its establishment, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
selected Dr. Kalam as its project director to help build India’s first indigenous satellite launch
vehicle (SLV). The ten years of hard work paid off as SLV-III successfully launched the satellite
Rohini into orbit in July 1980. This established India as a self reliant and exclusive member
having its indigenous technology of launching satellite.

Spreading the wings

After the successful launch of the Rohini satellite, Dr. Kalam broadened the scope of India’s
space programme. Utilising the technology of SLV, he directed two projects- Project Devil and
Project Valiant to develop ballistic missiles. According to Vikaspedia, an online information guide
launched by the Centre, then PM Indira Gandhi designated secret funds for these aerospace
projects through her discretionary powers despite objections from the cabinet.

The Missile Man of India

After two decade-long stints in ISRO, he was appointed the chief executive officer of the
Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). The programme under the
Ministry of Defence developed many missiles under famed Agni and Prithvi projects. Agni is an
intermediate-range ballistic missile and Prithvi is a tactical surface-to-surface missile.

Abdul Kalam as Major General Prithvi Raj, the Pokhran Saga

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam took charge as the Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister of India
between 1992 and 1999. He was the brain behind the Pokhran II nuclear test. To conceal the
identity, he was code named Major General Prithvi Raj. As a CEO of DRDO, he then famously
said, “The testing was a ‘defining moment’ in the country’s history, next only to adopting the path
of economic liberalization in 1991”.

Kalam-Raju Stent

Dr. Kalam, an aeronautical scientist, collaborated with a cardiologist, B. Soma Raju to build
indigenous coronary stents. Introduced in the markets in 1994, it led to a significant reduction in
the price of coronary stents, over 50% price cut as earlier it was to be imported. Based on it,
there are many upgraded models of the stent now available in the market saving the precious
lives of patients of coronary heart disease.

Conclusion
APJ Abdul Kalam was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1981 and Padma Vibhushan in 1990. In
1997, he was also decorated with the highest civilian award of the nation, the Bharat Ratna. His
life was cut short on 27th July 2015, when APJ Abdul Kalam died of a heart attack while
addressing a bunch of students in IIM, Shillong. Even his last breaths were devoted to serving
the people and igniting the young minds. Although India lost a great son, APJ Abdul Kalam’s
service and vision continue to motivate people to strive forward and work for their families and
country.