Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam – well known  as the people’s president, the pride of Indian research – the missile man and above all the modest human being, has left this world on this very day leaving 1.22 billion people in tears with hearts full of grief. Not one or two, the entire nation from young to old, weeps on his demise.

Not just his words stand as inspiration but his whole life is a true guide to be inspired.

Being born to  a poor family in Tamilnadu, during his schooling he used to distribute newspapers to contribute to his father’s income. Though he was not a bright lad at school, he was applauded for his hard work and keen interest to learn. He did his bachelor’s from  St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli, where he graduated in Physics. Later pursued his masters in Aeronautical Engineering from Madras Institute of Technology. He narrowly missed achieving his dream of becoming a fighter pilot, as he placed ninth in qualifiers, and only eight positions were available in the IAF which in turn led him to join DRDO in the Aeronautical Development Establishment and that marks the beginning of his career as a scientist.

His contributions as a scientist and researcher are humongous and extensive. He started his career by designing a small helicopter for Indian Army, he was never disappointed by the choice of job he took. He later moved to ISRO where he was a project director for India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III). Kalam also directed two projects, Project Devil and Project Valiant, which sought to develop ballistic missiles from the technology of the successful SLV programme. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi allotted secret funds for these aerospace projects through her discretionary powers under Kalam’s directorship.

His research and educational leadership brought him great laurels and prestige in the 1980s, which prompted the government to initiate an advanced missile programme under his directorship. Kalam served as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister and the 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. Media coverage of Kalam during this period made him the country’s best known nuclear scientist.

In association with cardiologist Soma Raju, Kalam developed a low cost coronary stent, named the Kalam-Raju Stent and also designed a rugged tablet computer for health care in rural areas, which was named the Kalam-Raju Tablet.

He received the prestigious ‘Bharat Ratna‘ award, ‘Padma Bhushan‘, ‘Padma Vibhushan‘ and 40 honorary doctorates from renowned Universities for his contributions.

Kalam served as the 11th President of India, succeeding K. R. Narayanan, he won by 90% majority in the polls. When NDA nominated Kalam as their presidential candidate in 2002, this was his reaction:

I am really overwhelmed. Everywhere both in Internet and in other media, I have been asked for a message. I was thinking what message I can give to the people of the country at this juncture

Kalam was the third President of India to have been honoured with a Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, before becoming the President. He was also the first scientist and the first bachelor to occupy Rashtrapati Bhawan

On 18 June 2012, Kalam declined to contest the 2012 presidential poll. He said of his decision not to do so:

Many, many citizens have also expressed the same wish. It only reflects their love and affection for me and the aspiration of the people. I am really overwhelmed by this support. This being their wish, I respect it. I want to thank them for the trust they have in me.

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.

He was so close to the hearts of millions of students, his words stood influential to one and all. Not just that, Kalam’s 79th birthday was recognised as World Student Day by the United Nations.

To all those who dream, this one liner by Kalam ji will give you the boost to make them into reality

Dreams- is not what you see in sleep, is the thing which doesn’t let you sleep

He was a great scientist, the people’s president, an inspiring professor and a Visionary! He envisioned India to be a super power by 2020 and now it is in our hands to make it possible!