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{{unreferenced|biographical article|date=January 2007}}
{{Infobox President
{{Infobox President
| name=Abdul Kalam
| name=Abdul Kalam

Revision as of 19:05, 17 June 2007

Abdul Kalam
11th President of India
Assumed office
July 25, 2002
Vice PresidentBhairon Singh Shekhawat
Preceded byK. R. Narayanan
Personal details
Born (1931-10-15) October 15, 1931 (age 92)[1]
Dhanushkodi, in Rameswaram, Madras Presidency,
Flag of British India British India
Political partyNot affiliated
SpouseNot Married

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (Tamil: அவுல் பகிர் ஜைனுலாப்தீன் அப்துல் கலாம் born October 15, 1931, Tamil Nadu, India, usually referred to as Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam ^) is the current President of India. A notable scientist and engineer, he is often referred to as the Missile Man of India for his work and is considered a leading progressive, mentor, innovator and visionary in India.

Honors

Kalam has received honorary doctorates from thirty universities[2], as well as India's three highest civilian honours: the Padma Bhushan in 1981; the Padma Vibhushan in 1990; and the Bharat Ratna in 1997. He has recently refused an honorary doctorate from a University, stating he is satisfied with the ones he has earned with his hard work and determination.

Political views

Abdul Kalam was the BJP candidate for the Presidential election in 2002 and was opposed by the Communist parties. Jyoti Basu, a senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), stated that the Communists opposed Kalam as he was the BJP's candidate.[3]

Something of Kalam's probable views on certain issues can be surmised from positions espoused by him in the past. His book "India 2020" strongly advocates an action plan to develop India into a knowledge superpower and into a developed nation by the year 2020. Kalam is credited with the view that India ought to take a more assertive stance in international relations; he regards his work on India's nuclear weapons program as a way to assert India's place as a future superpower.

Kalam continues to take an active interest in other developments in the field of science and technology as well. He has proposed a research programme for developing bio-implants. He is a supporter of Open source software over proprietary solutions and believes that the use of open source software on a large scale will bring more people the benefits of information technology.

Kalam's belief in the power of technology to resolve society's problems and his views of these problems as a result of inefficient distribution of resources is modernistic. He also sees science and technology as ideology-free areas and emphasizes the cultivation of scientific temper and entrepreneurial drive. In this, he finds a lot of support among India's new business leaders like the founders of Infosys and Wipro, (leading Indian IT corporations) who began their careers as technology professionals much in the same way Kalam did.

The President loves interacting with children. Here he is seen on the left talking with the exam toppers of La Martiniere Lucknow

Personal life

Kalam observes strict personal discipline, practicing vegetarianism, teetotalism and celibacy. Kalam is a scholar of Tirukkural; in most of his speeches, he quotes at least one kural. Kalam has written several inspirational books, most notably his autobiography Wings of Fire, aimed at motivating Indian youth. Another of his books, Guiding Souls: Dialogues on the Purpose of Life reveals his spiritual side. It has been reported that there is considerable demand in South Korea for translated versions of books authored by him.[4].

Trivia

File:Kalam sujatha school photo.jpg
Abdul Kalam and Sujatha in St.Joseph's College photo
  • His love of children is well known, he encourages their audiences with him.[5]
  • On Tuesday, 19 February, 2006, he created history by becoming the country's first President to undertake an undersea journey. Abdul Kalam boarded the INS Sindhurakshak, a Russian-origin kilo class submarine, from the Visakhapatnam Naval dockyard. The duration of the journey was around three-and-half hours during which Kalam had lunch with the crew members.[6]
  • While studying at the Madras Institute of Technology, he used to head the vegetarian mess.
  • Initially he wanted to become a pilot, but was rejected and then opted for aeronautical engineering later.
  • On June 8, 2006, he created history by becoming the first president to undertake a sortie in a fighter aircraft, a Sukhoi-30 MKI, from Lohegaon (Pune) airbase. As a 74-year old, he created a record by becoming the oldest Indian co-pilot to do so. The president donned a G Suit before boarding the aircraft. The flight, flown by Wing Commander Ajay Rathore, lasted 30 minutes flying at a height of six to eight kilometers in the air at a speed of 1500 Km/h.
  • His popularity among Indian youth is evident from the fact that the request to his re-election as president petition in Petition Online site is the one of the Top 10 petitions.
  • He narrowly escaped death,when his helicopter,while landing at Bokaro airport,met with an accident.After this incidence his view of life changed immensly and gave him vision to become the most famous Presidents of all times in indian history.
  • As President, he donated his income from his first 10 months in office to the NGO created and managed by Mata Amritanandamayi[7].
  • As a sign of his popularity among Indian youth, MTV-India recently nominated him as one of the prospects for its MTV India Youth Icon for the year 2006 Award[8]

Books

  • India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Y.S. Rajan (Penguin Books India, 2003) ISBN 0-14-027833-8
  • India-my-dream by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (Excel Books, 2004) ISBN 81-7446-350-X
  • Envisioning an Empowered Nation: Technology for Societal Transformation by A.P.J.Abdul Kalam (TATA McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Ltd, 2004) ISBN 0-07-053154-4
  • Guiding Souls: Dialogues on the Purpose of Life by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Arun K Tiwari, (Ocean Books, 2005) ISBN 81-88322-73-3
  • Biographies
    • Wings of Fire: An Autobiography of APJ Abdul Kalam by A.P.J Abdul Kalam, Arun Tiwari (Orient Longman, 1999) ISBN 81-7371-146-1
    • Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (Penguin Books, 2003) ISBN 0-14-302982-7
    • Scientist to President by Abdul A.P.J. Kalam (Gyan Publishing House, 2003) ISBN 81-212-0807-6
    • Eternal Quest: Life and Times of Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam by S. Chandra (Pentagon Publishers, 2002) ISBN 81-86830-55-3
    • President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam by R. K. Pruthi (Anmol Publications, 2002) ISBN 81-261-1344-8
    • A. P. J. Abdul Kalam: The Visionary of India' by K. Bhushan, G. Katyal (A.P.H. Pub. Corp, 2002) ISBN 81-7648-380-X

References

  1. ^ A Brief Biography of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
  2. ^ http://presidentofindia.nic.in/scripts/thepresident.jsp
  3. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/No_support_to_Prez_candidate_with_communal_links_Basu/articleshow/2089154.cms
  4. ^ "Kalam, the author catching on in South Korea".
  5. ^ Children's Corner on Abdul Kalam's web site
  6. ^ "President's submarine sortie". Retrieved 2006-10-26.
  7. ^ The President of India Donates 10 Months Salary for Amma's Charitable Activities
  8. ^ "Nomination for MTV-India Youth Icon for the year 2006 Award". Retrieved 2006-09-03.
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External links

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