A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
1931-2015
Being a brilliant scientist who helped build India’s space and missile programs and later became the President of India.
Early Life
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was born on October 15, 1931, in a small town called Rameswaram in India. His family did not have much money, but they believed strongly in education and hard work. As a child, Kalam sold newspapers to help support his family.
He was curious about how things worked and loved learning new ideas. His teachers noticed his focus and kindness, and they encouraged him to dream big. Kalam believed that with effort and honesty, anyone could achieve great things.
Love for Learning
Kalam studied physics and aerospace engineering, which is the science of flying machines like rockets. He worked very hard in school and college, even when the subjects were difficult. Instead of giving up, he practiced more and asked questions.
He once said that failure is just a step toward success. This positive attitude helped him keep going, even when experiments did not work as planned.
Achievements in Science
Kalam became an important scientist in India’s space and defense programs. He helped design rockets and missiles that made his country stronger and more confident. Because of his work, he was lovingly called the “Missile Man of India.”
He also played a key role in developing India’s first satellite launch vehicle. Kalam was proud of his team and always shared credit with others.
President of India
In 2002, Kalam became the 11th President of India. He was known as the “People’s President” because he loved meeting students and answering their questions. He encouraged children to dream big and work toward helping their country.
Even as president, he lived simply and continued to teach and write books.
Legacy and Inspiration
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam passed away in 2015 while giving a lecture to students, doing what he loved most—teaching. He is remembered as a kind leader, a great scientist, and a caring teacher.
His life shows that dreams, hard work, and good values can help anyone reach the stars.
🎉 Fun Facts
He loved playing the veena, a traditional Indian musical instrument.
Kalam wrote many books, including "Wings of Fire," about his life.
His birthday, October 15, is celebrated as Students’ Day in some places.
He often answered students’ emails personally.
He believed that dreaming big was the first step to success.