9 Lesser Known Facts About Dr Abdul Kalam

[Faizan Qadeer]

The great scientist and former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam passed away on Monday after suffering a massive heart attack while he was delivering a lecture at Indian Institute of Management in Shillong which ended journey of a man who inspired millions of people all around the world, of all generations and of all age groups. He was a Scientist, A Teacher, A Socialist, A Philosopher, People’s President, a true nationalist and Forever a Student.

1. In order to support his poor family, young Kalam used to distribute newspapers after his school hours to add to his father's income.​

Kalam came from a poor family background

2. Kalam as a scientist in DRDO​

After graduating from Madras Institute of Technology in 1960, Mr Kalam joined the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). He designed helicopters for the Indian Army.

3. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)​

Later he was transferred to the ISRO where Mr Kalam worked as the project director for SLV-III, India’s first indigenous satellite launch vehicle.

• 4. Kalam was a part of country’s first nuclear test​

Under his leadership, India became a major military power after the successes of Agni and Prithvi.

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SEE MORE : Lesser Known Facts About Dr Abdul Kalam

 

[Soulspeek]

Here is 5 unknown facts about his life which proves that he was man of the mass who believed in low profile lifestyle.

When Kalam refused to sit on President's chair:
In one of the event when President Kalam was offered special seat to him, he had refused the offer. The reason being the chair was bigger in the size and was meant to give Kalam special honour.
The incident was of IIT (BHU) Varanasi where Kalam was called as the chief guest. Five chairs were arranged on the state, one for Kalam in the cenre and other four for top university officials.
When Missile Man was told to sit on the chair he took notice of it and humbly offered the seat to university official instead.

Magnanimous nature of Kalam:
Once Kalam ordered not to put broken glass on the wall for its protection as it will harm birds. This had happened when he used to serve at Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
When Organization had planned to put glass on the wall as a protection cover, Kalam rejected the idea without thinking it twice. "If we do that, birds will not be able to perch on the wall", people's President Kalam had said.

Once Kalam addressed 400 students without electricity at the place:
Reportedly, soon after becoming president in 2002, he was supposed to address students at a school function.
When he was about to start his speech, the electricity suddenly went off. Nothing was working but Kalam remained nonchalant. He told huge crowd of students to gather him around listen him.
Kalam gave the mesmerizing lecture without any interruption for hours. Such was the aura of the Kalam.

When Kalam asked what he should do with his saved money:
One must not aware about the fact that after becoming president of India, Kalam had donated all his saved money for the social cause. Reportedly he had given money to 'Pura' an ngo working in the remote areas to provide villagers basic infrastructures.
When he was at the president post, Kalam had once called Amul's owner Verghese Kurian asking him what he should do with his money as government of India will take care of him lifelong.

Kalam used to read both Kuran, Bhagvad Gita:
Muslim by religion, he believed in all religion. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam used to read both Kuran, Bhagvad Gita. Not only that he was expert in playing Saraswati,Veena.
Truly, Kalam was a man who believed in serving the humankind with love and magnanimous attitude.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

He was GOD's GIFT to India

I thank GOD for giving India such a special and wonderful person
to whom we will be forever grateful

Such great persons are not born just like that

They are specially created by the Almighty to inspire millions by their work
and their lives

 

[volatile]

Respect for Mr.Kalam (as technologist) too bad he was on the other side of border .

 

[Rangila]

Respect for Mr.Kalam (as technologist) too bad he was on the other side of border .

he would not have been allowed in your side of border reciting Hindu scripture every morning.

 

[volatile]

Perhaps you dont understand Pakistan and talent ,no matter how bad situations are let me help you out with some of Hindus and christian in Pakistan .

Like Mr.Chief Justice Rana Bhagwan Das who was hindu and advocated Islamic laws .and similarly many others

 

[nair]

Perhaps you dont understand Pakistan and talent ,no matter how bad situations are let me help you out with some of Hindus and christian in Pakistan .

Like Mr.Chief Justice Rana Bhagwan Das who was hindu and advocated Islamic laws .and similarly many others

Please do not put religious angle to Mr. Kalam, That will be like insulting his soul......

 

[micky]

and more thing he is a pure vegeterian...........

 

[volatile]

Just responding to above question .

 

[Peaceful Civilian]

He was very intelligent man. No doubt, example for others . Such hard working man, belongs to poor family, he sold newspaper after class to feed family and became such big scientist. India should be proud of him.

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

ISRO in it's early days when Dr. Kalam Joined - He is considered the father of the Indian Satellite Vehicle Programme for his outstanding contribution to Indian SLV's especially SLV-3, ASLV & ISRO's work horse the PSLV.

SLV-3 - Dr. Kalam headed the SLV-3 project - India's First SLV

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ISRO Today - This transformation wouldn't have been possible without the hard work of our First Generation ISRO Scientists including names like Dr. Kalam, Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan, Nambi Narayanan, M G K Menon, U R Rao, K Kasturirangan, G Madhavan Nair, K Radhakrishnan, A. S. Kiran Kumar and many more!​

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[GURU DUTT]

He was very intelligent man. No doubt, example for others . Such hard working man, belongs to poor family, he sold newspaper after class to feed family and became such big scientist. India should be proud of him.

there was a rumour a year back that NaMo wanted kalam saheb "as he called him" to be his sientific advisor but kalam wanted to motiwate young indians so was more interested in doing promotional sessions/lectures for many diffrent universities the best part is he was already booked as almost all indian universities wanted him to do at least one lecture

and more thing he is a pure vegeterian...........

and could recite whole bhagwat geeta and also that he used to love playing "veena"

 

[anant_s]

there was a rumour a year back that NaMo wanted kalam saheb "as he called him" to be his sientific advisor but kalam wanted to motiwate young indians so was more interested in doing promotional sessions/lectures for many diffrent universities the best part is he was already booked as almost all indian universities wanted him to do at least one lecture

Men like Kalam are a rare breed. these are the people who oversaw a lot of scientific research in areas where India was denied technical assistance (Space, Nuclear, Defence etc) in 1960s through 90s. men like Dr. Kalam, Dr. Sarabhai, Dr. Bahabha, Dr. Sethna, Dr. Chidambaram are the shining examples on how to persevere and succeed in face of daunting challenges. Today World recognizes India as a power in fields of Space, N power and the credit must go to these men.
Even i heard that NDA government wanted to use this vast experience Dr. Kalam had in policy making, but as you mentioned his heart was somewhere else, with young minds.
Today as we look back on years after his Presidential tenure, you understand why he was involved with young generation. He wanted to pass on a legacy, i think he is successful. His life should serve as a lesson to all those who wish to mentor people, a very rare quality indeed.

love playing "veena"

 

[Force-India]

Love you forever.