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A.P.J.AbdulKalamWikipedia

A.P.J.AbdulKalam
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

ThisarticleisabouttheformerPresidentofIndia.FortheIndianfreedomfighter,seeAbulKalamAzad.
AvulPakirJainulabdeen"A.P.J."AbdulKalam

A.P.J.AbdulKalam

/bdlklm/(15October193127July2015)was

...

the11thPresidentofIndiafrom2002to2007.Acareerscientist
turnedstatesman,Kalamwasbornandraised
inRameswaram,TamilNadu,andstudiedphysicsandaerospace
engineering.Hespentthenextfourdecadesasascientistand
scienceadministrator,mainlyattheDefenceResearchand
DevelopmentOrganisation(DRDO)andIndianSpaceResearch
Organisation(ISRO)andwasintimatelyinvolvedinIndia'scivilian
spaceprogrammeandmilitarymissiledevelopmentefforts.[1]Hethus
cametobeknownastheMissileManofIndiaforhisworkonthe
developmentofballisticmissileandlaunch
vehicletechnology.[2][3][4]Healsoplayedapivotalorganisational,
technical,andpoliticalroleinIndia'sPokhranIInucleartestsin1998,
thefirstsincetheoriginalnucleartestbyIndiain1974.[5]
Kalamwaselectedasthe11thPresidentofIndiain2002withthe
supportofboththerulingBharatiyaJanataPartyandthethen
oppositionIndianNationalCongress.Widelyreferredtoasthe
"People'sPresident,"[6]hereturnedtohiscivilianlifeofeducation,

11thPresidentofIndia

writingandpublicserviceafterasingleterm.Hewasarecipientof

Inoffice
25July200225July2007

severalprestigiousawards,includingtheBharatRatna,India's
highestcivilianhonour.
WhiledeliveringalectureattheIndianInstituteofManagement
Shillong,Kalamcollapsedanddiedfromanapparentcardiacarrest
on27July2015,aged83.[7]Thousandsincludingnationallevel

PrimeMinister AtalBihariVajpayee
ManmohanSingh
VicePresident KrishanKant
BhaironSinghShekhawat

dignitariesattendedthefuneralceremonyheldinhishometownof

Precededby

K.R.Narayanan

Rameshwaram,wherehewasburiedwithfullstatehonours.[8]

Succeededby PratibhaPatil
Personaldetails

Contents[hide]

Born

AvulPakirJainulabdeen
AbdulKalam

15October1931
Rameswaram,Ramnad
District,Madras
Presidency,BritishIndia
(nowinRamanathapuram
District,TamilNadu,India

Died

27July2015(aged83)

1 Earlylifeandeducation
2 Careerasascientist
3 Presidency
4 Postpresidency
5 Death
5.1 Reactions
6 Personallife
7 Religiousandspiritualviews
7.1 Islam
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Shillong,Meghalaya,India

7.2 Syncretism

Causeofdeath Cardiacarrest(Stroke)

7.3 PramukhSwamiasGuru
8 Writings

Nationality

Indian

9 Awardsandhonours

Almamater

St.Joseph'sCollege,
Tiruchirappalli
MadrasInstituteof
Technology

Profession

Professor
Author
Aerospacescientist

12 References

Religion

Islam

13 Externallinks

Awards

BharatRatna1997
PadmaVibhushan1990
PadmaBhushan1981

9.1 Educationalandscientificinstitutions
9.2 Island
9.3 Otherawardsandhonours
10 Booksanddocumentaries
11 Seealso

Earlylifeandeducation

Signature

AvulPakirJainulabdeenAbdulKalamwasbornon15October1931
toaTamilMuslimfamilyinthepilgrimagecentre

Website

ofRameswaramonPambanIsland,thenintheMadras

abdulkalam.com

PresidencyandnowintheStateofTamilNadu.HisfatherJainulabudeenwasaboatownerandimamofalocal
mosque[9]hismotherAshiammawasahousewife.[10][11][12][13]HisfatherownedaferrythattookHindupilgrims
backandforthbetweenRameswaramandthenowuninhabitedDhanushkodi.[14][15]Kalamwastheyoungestof
fourbrothersandonesisterinhisfamily.[16][17][18]Hisancestorshadbeenwealthytradersandlandowners,with
numerouspropertiesandlargetractsofland.Theirbusinesshadinvolvedtradinggroceriesbetweenthemainland
andtheislandandtoandfromSriLanka,aswellasferryingpilgrimsbetweenthemainlandandPamban.Asa
result,thefamilyacquiredthetitleof"MaraKalamiyakkivar"(woodenboatsteerers),whichovertheyears
becameshortenedto"Marakier."WiththeopeningofthePambanBridgetothemainlandin1914,however,the
businessesfailedandthefamilyfortuneandpropertieswerelostovertime,apartfromtheancestralhome.[19]By
hisearlychildhood,Kalam'sfamilyhadbecomepooratanearlyage,hesoldnewspaperstosupplementhis
family'sincome.[20][20][21]
Inhisschoolyears,Kalamhadaveragegradesbutwasdescribedasabrightandhardworkingstudentwhohada
strongdesiretolearn.Hespenthoursonhisstudies,especiallymathematics.[21]Aftercompletinghiseducationat
theSchwartzHigherSecondarySchool,Ramanathapuram,KalamwentontoattendSaintJoseph'sCollege,
Tiruchirappalli,thenaffiliatedwiththeUniversityofMadras,fromwherehegraduatedinphysicsin1954.[22]He
movedtoMadrasin1955tostudyaerospaceengineeringinMadrasInstituteofTechnology.[13]WhileKalamwas
workingonaseniorclassproject,theDeanwasdissatisfiedwithhislackofprogressandthreatenedtorevokehis
scholarshipunlesstheprojectwasfinishedwithinthenextthreedays.Kalammetthedeadline,impressingthe
Dean,wholatersaidtohim,"Iwasputtingyouunderstressandaskingyoutomeetadifficultdeadline".[23]He
narrowlymissedachievinghisdreamofbecomingafighterpilot,asheplacedninthinqualifiers,andonlyeight
positionswereavailableintheIAF.[24]

Careerasascientist
AftergraduatingfromtheMadrasInstituteofTechnologyin
1960,KalamjoinedtheAeronauticalDevelopment
EstablishmentoftheDefenceResearchandDevelopment
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Thiswasmyfirststage,inwhichIlearnt
leadershipfromthreegreatteachers
DrVikramSarabhai,ProfSatish
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Organisation(DRDO)asascientist.Hestartedhiscareerby

DhawanandDrBrahmPrakash.Thiswas

designingasmallhovercraft,butremainedunconvincedbyhis

thetimeoflearningandacquisitionof

choiceofajobatDRDO.[26]Kalamwasalsopartof

knowledgeforme.

APJAbdulKalam[25]

theINCOSPARcommitteeworkingunderVikramSarabhai,the
renownedspacescientist.[13]In1969,Kalamwastransferredto

theIndianSpaceResearchOrganisation(ISRO)wherehewastheprojectdirectorofIndia'sfirstSatelliteLaunch
Vehicle(SLVIII)whichsuccessfullydeployedtheRohinisatelliteinnearearthorbitinJuly1980Kalamhadfirst
startedworkonanexpandablerocketprojectindependentlyatDRDOin1965.[1]In1969,Kalamreceivedthe
government'sapprovalandexpandedtheprogrammetoincludemoreengineers.[25]
In1963to1964,hevisitedNASA'sLangleyResearchCenterinHampton,
VirginiaGoddardSpaceFlightCenterinGreenbelt,Maryland
andWallopsFlightFacility.[11][27]Betweenthe1970sand1990s,Kalam
madeanefforttodevelopthePolarSatelliteLaunchVehicle(PSLV)and
SLVIIIprojects,bothofwhichprovedtobesuccessful.
KalamwasinvitedbyRajaRamannatowitnessthecountry'sfirstnuclear
testSmilingBuddhaastherepresentativeofTBRL,eventhoughhehad
notparticipatedinitsdevelopment.Inthe1970s,Kalamalsodirectedtwo

Kalamaddressesengineering
studentsatIITGuwahati

projects,ProjectDevilandProjectValiant,whichsoughttodevelopballistic
missilesfromthetechnologyofthesuccessfulSLVprogramme.[28]DespitethedisapprovaloftheUnionCabinet,
PrimeMinisterIndiraGandhiallottedsecretfundsfortheseaerospaceprojectsthroughherdiscretionarypowers
underKalam'sdirectorship.[28]KalamplayedanintegralroleconvincingtheUnionCabinettoconcealthetrue
natureoftheseclassifiedaerospaceprojects.[28]Hisresearchandeducationalleadershipbroughthimgreat
laurelsandprestigeinthe1980s,whichpromptedthegovernmenttoinitiateanadvancedmissileprogramme
underhisdirectorship.[28]KalamandDrVSArunachalam,metallurgistandscientificadvisertotheDefence
Minister,workedonthesuggestionbythethenDefenceMinister,R.Venkataramanonaproposalfor
simultaneousdevelopmentofaquiverofmissilesinsteadoftakingplannedmissilesoneafteranother.[29]R
Venkatramanwasinstrumentalingettingthecabinetapprovalforallocating388croresforthemission,
namedIntegratedGuidedMissileDevelopmentProgramme(IGMDP)andappointedKalamasthechief
executive.[29]KalamplayedamajorpartindevelopingmanymissilesunderthemissionincludingAgni,an
intermediaterangeballisticmissileandPrithvi,thetacticalsurfacetosurfacemissile,althoughtheprojectshave
beencriticisedformismanagementandcostandtimeoverruns.[29][30]
KalamservedastheChiefScientificAdvisertothePrimeMinisterandtheSecretaryoftheDefenceResearchand
DevelopmentOrganisationfromJuly1992toDecember1999.ThePokhranIInucleartestswereconducted
duringthisperiodinwhichheplayedanintensivepoliticalandtechnologicalrole.KalamservedastheChief
ProjectCoordinator,alongwithRajagopalaChidambaram,duringthetestingphase.[11][31]Mediacoverageof
Kalamduringthisperiodmadehimthecountry'sbestknownnuclearscientist.[32]However,thedirectorofthesite
test,KSanthanam,saidthatthethermonuclearbombhadbeena"fizzle"andcriticisiedKalamforissuingan
incorrectreport.[33]BothKalamandChidambaramdismissedtheclaims.[34]
In1998,alongwithcardiologistSomaRaju,Kalamdevelopedalowcostcoronarystent,namedthe"KalamRaju
Stent".[35][36]In2012,theduodesignedaruggedtabletcomputerforhealthcareinruralareas,whichwasnamed
the"KalamRajuTablet".[37]

Presidency
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Kalamservedasthe11thPresidentofIndia,succeedingK.R.Narayanan.Hewonthe2002presidential
electionwithanelectoralvoteof922,884,surpassingthe107,366voteswonbyLakshmiSahgal.Histermlasted
from25July2002to25July2007.[38]
On10June2002,theNationalDemocraticAlliance(NDA)whichwasinpoweratthetime,expressedthatthey
wouldnominateKalamforthepostofPresident,[39][40]andboththeSamajwadiPartyandtheNationalistCongress
Partybackedhiscandidacy.[41][42]AftertheSamajwadiPartyannounceditssupportforKalam,Narayananchose
nottoseekasecondterminoffice,leavingthefieldclear.[43]Kalamsaidoftheannouncementofhiscandidature:
Iamreallyoverwhelmed.EverywherebothinInternetandinothermedia,Ihavebeenaskedfora
message.IwasthinkingwhatmessageIcangivetothepeopleofthecountryatthisjuncture.[44]
On18June,KalamfiledhisnominationpapersintheIndianParliament,accompaniedbyVajpayeeandhissenior
Cabinetcolleagues.[45]
Thepollingforthepresidentialelectionbeganon15July2002in
Parliamentandthestateassemblies,withthemediaclaimingthatthe
electionwasaonesidedaffairandKalam'svictorywasaforegone
conclusionthecountwasheldon18July.[46]Kalambecamethe11th
presidentoftheRepublicofIndiainaneasyvictory,[47]andmovedinto
theRashtrapatiBhavanafterhewassworninon25July.[48]Kalamwas
thethirdPresidentofIndiatohavebeenhonouredwithaBharatRatna,
India'shighestcivilianhonour,beforebecomingthePresident.Dr
SarvepalliRadhakrishnan(1954)andDrZakirHussain(1963)werethe
earlierrecipientsofBharatRatnawholaterbecamethePresidentof

KalamalongwithVladimir
PutinandManmohanSinghduringhis
presidency

India.[49]Hewasalsothefirstscientistandthefirstbachelorto
occupyRashtrapatiBhawan.[50]
Duringhistermaspresident,hewasaffectionatelyknownasthePeople'sPresident,[51][52][53]sayingthatsigning
theOfficeofProfitBillwasthetoughestdecisionhehadtakenduringhistenure.[54][55][56]Kalamwascriticisedfor
hisinactionindecidingthefateof20outofthe21mercypetitionssubmittedtohimduringhistenure.[57]Article72
oftheConstitutionofIndiaempowersthePresidentofIndiatograntpardons,andsuspendorcommutethedeath
sentenceofconvictsondeathrow.[57][58]Kalamactedononlyonemercypleainhisfiveyeartenureaspresident,
rejectingthepleaofrapistDhananjoyChatterjee,whowaslaterhanged.[57]Perhapsthemostnotablepleawas
fromAfzalGuru,aKashmiriterroristwhowasconvictedofconspiracyintheDecember2001attackontheIndian
ParliamentandwassentencedtodeathbytheSupremeCourtofIndiain2004.[58]Whilethesentencewas
scheduledtobecarriedouton20October2006,thependingactiononhismercyplearesultedinhimremaining
ondeathrow.[58]HealsotookthecontroversialdecisiontoimposePresident'sRuleinBiharin2005.[59]
InSeptember2003,inaninteractivesessioninPGIChandigarh,KalamsupportedtheneedofUniformCivil
CodeinIndia,keepinginviewthepopulationofthecountry.[60][61][62][63]
Attheendofhisterm,on20June2007,Kalamexpressedhiswillingnesstoconsiderasecondterminoffice
providedtherewascertaintyabouthisvictoryinthe2007presidentialelection.[64]However,twodayslater,he
decidednottocontestthePresidentialelectionagainstatingthathewantedtoavoidinvolvingRashtrapati
Bhavanfromanypoliticalprocesses.[65]Hedidnothavethesupportoftheleftparties,ShivSenaandUPA
constituents,toreceivearenewedmandate.[66][67]
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Nearingtheexpiryofthetermofthe12thPresidentPratibhaPatilon24July2012,mediareportsinAprilclaimed
thatKalamwaslikelytobenominatedforhissecondterm.[68][69][70]Afterthereports,socialnetworking
siteswitnessedanumberofpeoplesupportinghiscandidature.[71][72]TheBJPpotentiallybackedhisnomination,
sayingthatthepartywouldlendtheirsupportiftheTrinamoolCongress,SamajwadiPartyandIndianNational
Congressproposedhimforthe2012presidentialelection.[73][74]Amonthaheadoftheelection,MulayamSingh
YadavandMamataBanerjeealsoexpressedtheirsupportforKalam.[75]Daysafterwards,MulayamSinghYadav
backedout,leavingMamataBanerjeeasthesolitarysupporter.[76]On18June2012,Kalamdeclinedtocontest
the2012presidentialpoll.Hesaidofhisdecisionnottodoso:
Many,manycitizenshavealsoexpressedthesamewish.Itonlyreflectstheirloveandaffectionfor
meandtheaspirationofthepeople.Iamreallyoverwhelmedbythissupport.Thisbeingtheirwish,I
respectit.Iwanttothankthemforthetrusttheyhaveinme.[77]

Postpresidency
Afterleavingoffice,KalambecameavisitingprofessorattheIndianInstituteofManagementShillong,theIndian
InstituteofManagementAhmedabad,andtheIndianInstituteofManagementIndoreanhonoraryfellowofIndian
InstituteofScience,Bangalore[78]chancelloroftheIndianInstituteofSpaceScienceandTechnology
ThiruvananthapuramprofessorofAerospaceEngineeringatAnnaUniversityandanadjunctatmanyother
academicandresearchinstitutionsacrossIndia.HetaughtinformationtechnologyattheInternationalInstituteof
InformationTechnology,Hyderabad,andtechnologyatBanarasHinduUniversityandAnnaUniversity.[79]
InMay2012,KalamlaunchedaprogrammefortheyouthofIndiacalledtheWhatCanIGiveMovement,witha
centralthemeofdefeatingcorruption.[80][81]
In2011,KalamwascriticisedbycivilgroupsoverhisstandontheKoodankulamNuclearPowerPlanthe
supportedtheestablishmentofthenuclearpowerplantandwasaccusedofnotspeakingwiththelocal
people.[82]Theprotesterswerehostiletohisvisitastheyperceivedtohimtobeapronuclearscientistandwere
unimpressedbytheassurancesprovidedbyhimregardingthesafetyfeaturesoftheplant.[83]

Death
On27July2015,KalamtravelledtoShillongtodeliveralectureon
"CreatingaLivablePlanetEarth"attheIndianInstituteofManagement
Shillong.Whileclimbingaflightofstairs,heexperiencedsomediscomfort,
butwasabletoentertheauditoriumafterabriefrest.[84]Ataround
6:35p.m.IST,onlyfiveminutesintohislecture,hecollapsed.[85][86]He
wasrushedtothenearbyBethanyHospitalinacriticalconditionupon
arrival,helackedapulseoranyothersignsoflife.[85]Despitebeingplaced
intheintensivecareunit,Kalamwasconfirmeddeadofasuddencardiac
arrestat7:45p.mIST.[85][87][88]Hislastwords,tohisaideSrijanPalSingh,

KalamatBijnoraweekbeforehis
death

werereportedly:"Funnyguy!Areyoudoingwell?"[89]
Followinghisdeath,Kalam'sbodywasairliftedinanIndianAir
ForcehelicopterfromShillongtoGuwahati,fromwhereitwasflownto
NewDelhionthemorningof28JulyinanairforceC130JHercules.The

Wikinewshasrelated
news:FormerIndian
presidentAPJAbdul
Kalamdiesatage83

flightlandedatPalamAirBasethatafternoonandwasreceivedbythe
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President,thePrimeMinister,ChiefMinisterofDelhiArvindKejriwal,andthethreeservicechiefsoftheIndian
ArmedForces,wholaidwreathsonKalam'sbody.[90]Hisbodywasthenplacedonaguncarriagedrapedwiththe
IndianflagandtakentohisDelhiresidenceat10RajajiMargthere,thepublicandnumerousdignitariespaid
homage,includingformerprimeministerManmohanSingh,CongressPresidentSoniaGandhiandVice
PresidentRahulGandhi,andUttarPradeshChiefMinisterAkhileshYadav.[91]
Onthemorningof29July,Kalam'sbody,wrappedintheIndianflag,wastakentoPalamAirBaseandflown
toMaduraiinanairforceC130Jaircraft,arrivingatMaduraiAirportthatafternoon.Hisbodywasreceivedatthe
airportbythethreeservicechiefsandnationalandstatedignitaries,includingcabinetministersManohar
Parrikar,VenkaiahNaidu,PonRadhakrishnanandthegovernorsofTamilNaduandMeghalaya,KRosaiahandV.
Shanmuganathan.Afterabriefceremony,Kalam'sbodywasflownbyairforcehelicoptertothetown
ofMandapam,fromwhereitwastakeninanarmytrucktohishometownofRameswaram.Uponarrivingat
Rameswaram,hisbodywasdisplayedinanopenareainfrontofthelocalbusstationtoallowthepublictopay
theirfinalrespectsuntil8p.m.thatevening.[92][93]
On30July2015,theformerPresidentwaslaidtorestatRameswaram'sPeiKarumbuGroundwithfullstate
honours.Over350,000peopleattendedthelastrites,includingthePrimeMinister,thegovernorofTamilNadu
andthechiefministersofKarnataka,KeralaandAndhraPradesh.[94][95]

Reactions
IndiareactedtoKalam'sdeathwithanoutpouringofgriefnumerous
tributeswerepaidtotheformerPresidentacrossthenationandonsocial
media.[96]TheGovernmentofIndiadeclaredasevendaystate
mourningperiodasamarkofrespect.[97]PresidentPranabMukherjee,
VicePresidentHamidAnsari,HomeMinisterRajnathSingh,andother
leaderscondoledtheformerPresident'sdemise.[87]Prime
MinisterNarendraModisaid"[Dr.Kalam's]deathisagreatlosstothe
scientificcommunity.HetookIndiatogreatheights.Heshowedthe
way."[98]FormerPrimeMinisterDrManmohanSingh,whohadservedas
primeministerunderKalam,said,"ourcountryhaslostagreathuman

PrimeMinisterNarendraModilaysa
wreathatKalam'sbody,onarrival
atPalamAirBase.

beingwhomadephenomenalcontributionstothepromotionofself
relianceindefencetechnologies.IworkedverycloselywithDr.KalamasprimeministerandIgreatlybenefited
fromhisadviceaspresidentofourcountry.Hislifeandworkwillberememberedforgenerationsto
come."[99]ISROchairmanA.S.KiranKumarcalledhisformercolleague"agreatpersonalityandagentleman",
whileformerchairmanG.MadhavanNairdescribedKalamas"agloballeader"forwhom"thedowntroddenand
poorpeoplewerehispriority.Healwayshadapassiontoconveywhatisinhismindtotheyounggeneration",
addingthathisdeathleftavacuumwhichnonecouldfill.[100][101]
SouthAsianleadersexpressedcondolencesandlaudedthelatestatesman.TheBhutanesegovernmentordered
thecountry'sflagstoflyathalfstafftomournKalam'sdeath,andlit1000butterlampsinhomage.Bhutanese
PrimeMinisterTsheringTobgayexpresseddeepsadness,sayingKalam"wasaleadergreatlyadmiredbyall
people,especiallytheyouthofIndiawhohavereferredtohimasthepeople'sPresident".[102]BangladeshPrime
MinisterSheikhHasinadescribedKalamas"ararecombinationofagreatstatesman,acclaimedscientist,anda
sourceofinspirationtotheyounggenerationofSouthAsia"andtermedhisdeathan"irreparablelosstoIndiaand
beyond".BangladeshNationalistPartychiefKhaledaZiasaid"asanuclearscientist,heengagedhimselfinthe
welfareofthepeople".AshrafGhani,thePresidentofAfghanistan,calledKalam"aninspirationalfiguretomillions
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ofpeople,"notingthat"wehavealottolearnfromhislife".NepalesePrimeMinisterSushilKoiralarecalled
Kalam'sscientificcontributionstoIndia:"NepalhaslostagoodfriendandIhavelostanhonouredandideal
personality."ThePresidentofPakistan,MamnoonHussain,andPrimeMinisterofPakistanNawazSharifalso
expressedtheirgriefandcondolencesonhisdeath.[103][104][105]ThePresidentofSriLanka,MaithripalaSirisena,
alsoexpressedhiscondolences."Dr.Kalamwasamanoffirmconvictionandindomitablespirit,andIsawhimas
anoutstandingstatesmanoftheworld.HisdeathisanirreparablelossnotonlytoIndiabuttotheentire
world."[106]MaldivianPresidentAbdullaYameenandVicePresidentAhmedAdheebcondoledKalam'sdeath,with
YameennaminghimasaclosefriendoftheMaldiveswhowouldcontinuetobeaninspirationtoIndiansand
generationsofSouthAsians.FormerpresidentMaumoonAbdulGayoom,whohadmadeanofficialvisittoIndia
duringKalam'spresidency,termedhisdemiseasagreatlosstoallofhumankind.[107]TheCommanderinChiefof
theMyanmarArmedForces,SeniorGeneralMinAungHlaing,expressedcondolencesonbehalfoftheMyanmar
government.[108]TheDalaiLamaexpressedhissadnessandofferedcondolencesandprayers,callingKalam's
death"anirreparableloss".[109]
KathleenWynne,thePremierofOntario,whichKalamhadvisitedonnumerousoccasions,expressed"deepest
condolences...asarespectedscientist,heplayedacriticalroleinthedevelopmentoftheIndianspace
programme.Asacommittededucator,heinspiredmillionsofyoungpeopletoachievetheirverybest.Andasa
devotedleader,hegainedsupportbothathomeandabroad,becomingknownas'thepeople'sPresident'.Ijoin
ourIndoCanadianfamilies,friends,andneighboursinmourningthepassingofthisrespectedleader."[110]United
StatesPresidentBarackObamaextended"deepestcondolencestothepeopleofIndiaonthepassingofformer
IndianPresidentDr.APJAbdulKalam",andhighlightedhisachievementsasascientistandasastatesman,
notablyhisroleinstrengtheningUSIndiarelationsandincreasingspacecooperationbetweenthetwonations.
"Suitablynamed'thePeople'sPresident',Dr.Kalam'shumilityanddedicationtopublicserviceservedasan
inspirationtomillionsofIndiansandadmirersaroundtheworld."[111]RussianPresidentVladimirPutinexpressed
sincerecondolencesandconveyedhissympathyandsupport"tothenearanddearonesofthedeceasedleader,
tothegovernment,andentirepeopleofIndia".HeremarkedonKalam'soutstanding"personalcontributiontothe
social,economic,scientific,andtechnicalprogressofIndiaandinensuringitsnationalsecurity,"addingthatDr
Kalamwouldberememberedasa"consistentexponentofcloserfriendlyrelationsbetweenournations,whohas
donealotforcementingmutuallybeneficialRussianIndiancooperation."[112]Otherinternationalleaders
includingformerIndonesianpresidentSusiloBambangYudhoyono,MalaysianPrimeMinisterNajibRazak,
SingaporeanPrimeMinisterLeeHsienLoong,PresidentoftheUnitedArabEmiratesSheikhKhalifabinZayedAl
Nahyan,andVicePresidentandPrimeMinisteroftheUnitedArabEmiratesandemirofDubaiSheikhMohammed
binRashidAlMaktoumalsopaidtributetoKalam.[113][114]Inaspecialgesture,SecretaryGeneraloftheUnited
NationsBanKimoonvisitedthePermanentMissionofIndiatotheUNandsignedacondolencebook."The
outpouringofgriefaroundtheworldisatestamentoftherespectandinspirationhehasgarneredduringandafter
hispresidency.TheUNjoinsthepeopleofIndiainsendingourdeepestcondolencesforthisgreatstatesman.
Mayherestinpeaceandeternity",Banwroteinhismessage.[115]

Personallife
Kalamwastheyoungestoffivesiblings,theeldestofwhomwasasister,AsimZohra(d.1997),followedbythree
elderbrothers:MohammedMuthuMeeraLebbaiMaraikayar(b.1916aged99),MustafaKamal(d.1999)and
KasimMohammed(d.1995).[116]Hewasextremelyclosetohiseldersiblingsandtheirextendedfamilies
throughouthislife,andwouldregularlysendsmallsumsofmoneytohisolderrelations,himselfremaininga
lifelongbachelor.[116][117]
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Kalamwasnotedforhisintegrityandhissimplelifestyle.[117]Heneverownedatelevision,andwasinthehabitof
risingat6:30or7a.mandsleepingby2a.m.[118]Hisfewpersonalpossessionsincludedhisbooks,hisveena,
somearticlesofclothing,aCDplayerandalaptopathisdeath,heleftnowill,andhispossessionswenttohis
eldestbrother,whosurvivedhim.[119][120]
Inthe2011HindifilmIAmKalam,KalamisportrayedasapositiveinfluenceonapoorbutbrightRajasthaniboy
namedChhotu,whorenameshimselfKalaminhonourofhisidol.[121]

Religiousandspiritualviews
ReligionandspiritualitywereveryimportanttoKalamthroughouthislife.[122]Infact,hemadehisownspiritual
journeythesubjectofhisfinalbook,Transcendence:MySpiritualExperienceswithPramukhSwamiji.[123][124]

Islam
AproudandpractisingMuslim,dailynamzandfastingduringRamadanwereintegraltoKalam's
life.[9][125][126]Hisfather,theimamofamosqueinhishometownofRameswaram,hadstrictlyinstilledthese
Islamiccustomsinhischildren.[9]HisfatherhadalsoimpressedupontheyoungKalamthevalueofinterfaith
respectanddialogue.AsKalamrecalled:"Everyevening,myfatherA.P.Jainulabdeen,animam,Pakshi
LakshmanaSastry,theheadpriestoftheRamanathaswamyHindutemple,andachurchpriestusedtositwithhot
teaanddiscusstheissuesconcerningtheisland."[123][127]SuchearlyexposureconvincedKalamthattheanswers
toIndia'smultitudinousissueslayin"dialogueandcooperation"amongthecountry'sreligious,social,andpolitical
leaders.[125]Moreover,sinceKalambelievedthat"respectforotherfaiths"wasoneofthekeycornerstones
ofIslam,hewasfondofsaying:"Forgreatmen,religionisawayofmakingfriendssmallpeoplemakereligiona
fightingtool."[128]

Syncretism
OnecomponentofKalam'swidespreadpopularityamongdiversegroupsinIndia,andanenduringaspectofhis
legacy,isthesyncretismheembodiedinappreciatingvariouselementsofthemanyspiritualandculturaltraditions
ofIndia.[125][126][129][130]InadditiontohisfaithintheKoranandIslamicpractice,KalamwaswellversedinHindu
traditionshelearntSanskrit,[131][132]readtheBhagavadGita[133][134]andhewasavegetarian.[135]Kalamalso
enjoyedwritingTamilpoetry,playingtheveena(aSouthIndianstringinstrument),[136]andlisteningtoCarnatic
devotionalmusiceveryday.[126]In2002,inoneofhisearlyspeechestoParliamentafterbecomingPresident,he
reiteratedhisdesireforamoreunitedIndia,statingthat"[d]uringthelastoneyearImetanumberofspiritual
leadersofallreligions...[and]Iwouldliketoendeavourtoworkforbringingaboutunityofmindsamongthe
divergenttraditionsofourcountry".[129]DescribingKalamasaunifierofdiversetraditions,CongressleaderShashi
Tharoorstated,"KalamwasacompleteIndian,anembodimentoftheeclecticismofIndia'sheritageof
diversity".[126]BJPleaderL.K.AdvaniconcurredthatKalamwas"thebestexemplaroftheIdeaofIndia,onewho
embodiedthebestofalltheculturalandspiritualtraditionsthatsignifyIndia'sunityinimmensediversity.Thiswas
moststrikinglyevidentinthesecondtolastbookhepublished,prescientlytitledTranscendence:MySpiritual
ExperienceswithPramukhSwami.[130]

PramukhSwamiasGuru
Kalam'sdesiretomeetspiritualleaderstohelpcreateamoreprosperous,spiritual,andunifiedIndiawaswhat
initiallyledhimtomeetPramukhSwami,theHinduguruoftheBAPSSwaminarayanSampradaya,whoKalam
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wouldcometoconsiderhisultimatespiritualteacherandguru.[123][125]ThefirstofeightmeetingsbetweenKalam
andPramukhSwamioverafourteenyearperiodtookplaceon30June2001inNewDelhi,duringwhichKalam
describedbeingimmediatelydrawntoPramukhSwami'ssimplicityandspiritualpurity.[137]Kalamstatedthathe
wasinspiredbyPramukhSwamithroughouttheirnumerousinteractions.Onesuchincidentoccurredtheday
followingtheterroristattackonBAPS'Akshardham,GandhinagarcomplexinSeptember2002PramukhSwami
prayedfor,andsprinkledholywaterupon,thesitesofallofthedeceased,includingtheterrorists,demonstrating
theviewthatallhumanlifeissacred.KalamrecalledbeingmovedbyPramukhSwami'sequanimityand
compassion,citingthisincidentasoneofhismotivationsforwritingTranscendence:MySpiritualExperienceswith
PramukhSwamiji.[138]SummarisingtheeffectthatPramukhSwamihadonhim,Kalamstatedthat"[Pramukh
Swami]hasindeedtransformedme.Heistheultimatestageofthespiritualascentinmylife...PramukhSwamiji
hasputmeinaGodsynchronousorbit.Nomanoeuvresarerequiredanymore,asIamplacedinmyfinal
positionineternity."[125][139]FollowingKalam'sdeathamonthafterhisfinalbookwasreleased,coauthorArun
TiwaripointedtothispassageaspotentiallypropheticandpremonitoryofKalam'sdeath.[140]

Writings
InhisbookIndia2020,Kalamstronglyadvocatedanactionplanto
developIndiaintoa"knowledgesuperpower"andadevelopednationby
theyear2020.HeregardedhisworkonIndia'snuclear
weaponsprogrammeasawaytoassertIndia'splaceasafuture
superpower.[141]
IhaveidentifiedfiveareaswhereIndiahasacore
competenceforintegratedaction:(1)agricultureandfood
processing(2)educationandhealthcare(3)informationand
communicationtechnology(4)infrastructure,reliableand

APJAbdulKalamdeliveringa
speech

qualityelectricpower,surfacetransportandinfrastructurefor
allpartsofthecountryand(5)selfrelianceincritical
technologies.Thesefiveareasarecloselyinterrelatedandif
advancedinacoordinatedway,willleadtofood,economic
andnationalsecurity.
Kalamdescribesa"transformativemoment"inhislifewhenheaskedPramukhSwami,theguruoftheBAPS
SwaminarayanSampradaya,howIndiamightrealisethisfiveprongedvisionofdevelopment.PramukhSwami's
answertoaddasixthareadevelopingfaithinGodandspiritualitytoovercomethecurrentclimateofcrimeand
corruptionbecamethespiritualvisionforthenext15yearsKalam'slife,whichhedescribesinhisfinal
book,Transcendence:MySpiritualExperienceswithPramukhSwamiji,publishedjustamonthbeforehis
death.[137]
ItwasreportedthattherewasconsiderabledemandinSouthKoreafortranslatedversionsofbooksauthoredby
him.[142]
Kalamtookanactiveinterestinotherdevelopmentsinthefieldofscienceandtechnology,includingaresearch
programmefordevelopingbiomedicalimplants.Healsosupportedopensourcetechnologyoverproprietary
software,predictingthattheuseoffreesoftwareonalargescalewouldbringthebenefitsofinformation
technologytomorepeople.[143]
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Kalamsetatargetofinteractingwith100,000studentsduringthetwoyearsafterhisresignationfromthepostof
scientificadviserin1999.[21]Heexplained,"Ifeelcomfortableinthecompanyofyoungpeople,particularlyhigh
schoolstudents.Henceforth,Iintendtosharewiththemexperiences,helpingthemtoignitetheirimaginationand
preparingthemtoworkforadevelopedIndiaforwhichtheroadmapisalreadyavailable."Hisdreamistolet
everystudenttolightuptheskywithvictoryusingtheirlatentfireintheheart.[21]

Awardsandhonours
Kalamreceived7honorarydoctoratesfrom40universities.[144][145]TheGovernmentofIndiahonouredhimwith
thePadmaBhushanin1981andthePadmaVibhushanin1990forhisworkwithISROandDRDOandhisroleas
ascientificadvisortotheGovernment.[146]In1997,KalamreceivedIndia'shighestcivilianhonour,theBharat
Ratna,forhiscontributiontothescientificresearchandmodernisationofdefencetechnologyinIndia.[147]In2013,
hewastherecipientoftheVonBraunAwardfromtheNationalSpaceSociety"torecognizeexcellenceinthe
managementandleadershipofaspacerelatedproject".[148]
Followinghisdeath,Kalamreceivednumeroustributes.TheTamilNadustategovernmentannouncedthathis
birthday,15October,wouldbeobservedacrossthestateas"YouthRenaissanceDay"thestategovernment
furtherinstitutedthe"Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamAward,"constitutingan8gramgoldmedal,acertificate
and500,000(US$7,400).TheawardwillbeawardedannuallyonIndependenceDay,beginningin2015,to
residentsofthestatewithachievementsinpromotingscientificgrowth,thehumanitiesorthewelfareof
students.[149]
Onoccasionofhisbirthday(2015),CBSEhasgiventhetopicsonhisnameintheCBSEexpressionseries.[150]
ThePrimeMinister,Mr.NarendraModireleasedthecommemorativepostalstampsontheformerPresidentof
India,DrA.P.J.AbdulKalam,onhis84thbirthanniversarycelebrations,atDRDOBhawan,inNewDelhion
October15,2015.

Educationalandscientificinstitutions
SeveraleducationalandscientificinstitutionsandotherlocationswererenamedornamedinhonourofKalam
followinghisdeath.
AnagriculturalcollegeatKishanganj,Bihar,wasrenamedthe"Dr.KalamAgriculturalCollege,Kishanganj"by
theBiharstategovernmentonthedayofKalam'sfuneral.Thestategovernmentalsoannounceditwould
nameaproposedsciencecityafterKalam.[151]
UttarPradeshTechnicalUniversity(UPTU)wasrenamed"A.P.J.AbdulKalamTechnicalUniversity"bytheUttar
Pradeshstategovernment.[152]
A.P.J.AbdulKalamMemorialTravancoreInstituteofDigestiveDiseases,anewresearchinstitute
inKollamcity,KeralaattachedtotheTravancoreMedicalCollegeHospital.[153]
AnewacademiccomplexatMahatmaGandhiUniversityinKerala.[154]
AnewsciencecentreandplanetariuminLawspet,Puducherry.[155]
IndiaandtheUShavelaunchedtheFulbrightKalamClimateFellowshipInSeptember2014.Thefirstcallfor
applicantswasannouncedonFridayMarch12,2016,forthefellowshipwhichwillenableupto6IndianPhD
studentsandpostdoctoralresearcherstoworkwithUShostinstitutionsforaperiodof612months.The
fellowshipwillbeoperatedbythebinationalUSIndiaEducationalFoundation(USIEF)undertheFulbright
programme.[156]
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KeralaTechnologicalUniversity,headquarteredatThiruvananthapuramwhereKalamlivedforyears,was
renamedtoAPJAbdulKalamTechnologicalUniversityafterhisdeath.

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