Remembering APJ Abdul Kalam: Five stories on the Missile Man’s legacy

Kalam, who would have turned 84 in October, was confirmed dead more than two hours after he was wheeled into the ICU of Bethany hospital in a critical condition following the collapse at around 6.30 PM.

Here are five stories you must read on the life and times of A P J Abdul Kalam:

READ: Salaam, President Abdul Kalam: The end came in the company of students 

It was a setting that had defined his life, first as a scientist and then as India’s 11th President. It was also one that summed up his final moments. On the dais was Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, delivering the first lines of a lecture on sustainable development, to be followed by a trademark interaction with over 135 students from the Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management (RG-IIM) in Shillong.

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But then, at around 6.30 pm, just as he had clicked past the first two slides, he collapsed — 75 minutes later, it was official. “All efforts were made but Dr A P J Abdul Kalam could not be revived,” the Bethany Hospital said in a statement.

At around 6.30 pm, just as APJ Abdul Kalam had clicked past the first two slides, he collapsed — 75 minutes later, it was official.

READ: I can get the youth to dream. They have fewer biases about society: A P J Abdul Kalam 

“Tomorrow if I address a group of youngsters and talk about the flag flying in my heart and how I will uphold the dignity of the nation, I can get them to dream. But if I talk to people who are 40, 50 or 70 plus, it will not go down that well. Also, the youth have fewer biases about their society as compared to the grown-ups,” said Kalam.

“I believe every President before me contributed something in their respective fields — some in politics, some in education and others in social services,” said APJ Abdul Kalam. (Source: Express Archive)

READ: Missile Man to President: ‘Kalam drove people to think’

Kalam was also instrumental in laying the foundation of the rocket launch systems at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) during a nearly two decade stint at ISRO from the late 1960s to 1982.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam with Pranab Mukherjee. (Source: PTI)

READ: The People’s President Reached out his hand and put his foot down as well 

Known as the people’s President, he was the first occupant of the Rashtrapati Bhawan who connected to masses, particularly the youth, who accessed him via the internet.

APJ Abdul Kalam with students in Nagpur. He was always easily accessible to the youth. (Express Photo by: Shekhar Soni)

READ: Kalam’s Journey started with cattle shed, some cycling help from a colleague 

Kalam was one of the few young scientists sent by Dr Vikram Sarabhai for training of ‘sounding rockets’ at the National Aeronautics Space Agency in the US. When he reached Thumba in 1964, Kalam had little to fall back on. He had converted a cattle shed at this coast into a laboratory to work on sounding rockets.

APJ Abdul Kalam was one of the few young scientists sent by Dr Vikram Sarabhai for training of ‘sounding rockets’ at the National Aeronautics Space Agency in the US.