Abdul Kalam was born on October 15, 1927, in the town of Trichur in present-day Kerala. He lived as one of the multiple significant scientists of our time and a genius inventor who helped change the course of human history. Kalam’s early years were spent working as a teacher and later as the head of the Department of Mathematics at the University of Madras. During this time, he started working on his most famous project: developing an artificial atom bomb.
After years of hard work and dedication, Kalam’s atom bomb project successfully culminated in India detonating its first nuclear device in 1974. This event changed India’s geopolitical landscape and ignited Kalam’s passion for aerospace engineering.
Today, Kalam is best known for his work as a scientific advisor to the president of India and his contributions to space research. Read on to learn more about Abdul Kalam’s journey from small-town Kerala to one of the world’s most celebrated scientists.
Abdul kalam’s early life
He had humble beginnings, as his family could only afford to send him to school for a few years before he had to leave to support them. After working odd jobs during his teenage years, Abdul Kalam finally earned his first wages by working as an apprentice engineer with the Indian Air Force.
Kalam quickly made a name for himself, and by the time he was just 25, he had become head of the research wing at the Indian Missile Research Laboratory. In 1971, Kalam was selected to be part of a team that developed India’s first nuclear weapons test, code-named “Operation Shakti.” This achievement put him in high demand within the government, and soon, he became an advisor to the president on strategic affairs.
Kalam is most famous for his work on developing India’s ballistic missile program. His efforts paid off when in 2007, India successfully tested its latest ballistic missile—the Prithvi-II—which has a range of over 5,000 kilometers. Abdul Kalam has since retired from his position as advisor to the president but continues to work on various scientific projects.
How Abdul kalam started his career as an engineer
Abdul Kalam was harbored on October 15, 1931, in a village in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, India. He had an early interest in mathematics and physics, which led him to pursue a career in engineering. After completing his undergraduate studies at Andhra University, he earned a master’s degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1955 and a doctorate from the same institution two years later.
Kalam began his career as an aerospace engineer with the Indian Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1962. During this time, he helped design and build several satellites and spacecraft. In 1968, Kalam moved to the United States to become a professor of aerospace engineering at MIT. He served in this role for nearly three decades before retiring in 1997.
Throughout his career, Kalam made significant contributions to aeronautics and space technology. Among other things, he developed principles for maneuverability and control for aircraft, designed algorithms for computer-aided navigation systems, and developed concepts for low-cost satellite launches. He also played a crucial role in developing India’s missile program, coining the term “sunset missile” to describe India’s nuclear capability against neighboring countries.
Kalam remains active as a public figure outside of his professional work. He has written several books on engineering and science topics, speaking about global warming and its effects on society, and has been featured on various television shows discussing these issues. He is also the patron president of The Abdul Kalam Foundation Trust.
How Abdul kalam became a nuclear scientist
Abdul Kalam was born in 1931 in a small village in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He only had access to education when he was 12 years old and started working as a clerk in a local school. After earning his high school diploma, Abdul Kalam enrolled at Madras University to study physics. In 1954, he obtained his bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics. Three years later, Abdul Kalam earned a master’s degree from the same university.
In 1961, Abdul Kalam started working at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), located in Bangalore, as a research scientist. He worked there for two years before moving to the United States to continue his scientific career. In 1964, Abdul Kalam joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as a research professor. He developed new theories about thermonuclear fusion and became known as one of the world’s most outstanding nuclear scientists.
In 1987, Abdul Kalam became the president of India and continued to serve in that position until his death on October 15, 2002. During his presidency, Abdul Kalam tried to improve relations between India and other countries and promote scientific research. He is also credited with bringing about significant changes in India’s economy and society during his office.
How Abdul kalam became a president of Pakistan
Abdul Kalam was born on November 14, 1931, in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India. His father, an accountant and school inspector, died when Abdul was only five years old. After his father’s death, Abdul and his mother had to work hard to support themselves.
Abdul Kalam started his formal education at a local college in Rameswaram. In 1955 he went to Madras University to study physics and mathematics. While at university, he became involved with the student union and began organizing protests against the British Raj. In 1961 he graduated from university with a BSc degree in physics.
After graduating from university, Abdul Kalam worked as a scientist for the Indian Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC). He also taught mathematics at a secondary school in Rameswaram. In 1962 he left his job with the IAEC to become a full-time student at Caltech in Pasadena, California, where he earned an MS degree 1963 in aeronautical engineering.
Returning to India in 1963, Abdul Kalam joined the newly formed Defence Research Laboratory (DRL) as a staff physicist. He developed his ideas about rocket science and space technology here.
He also met Dr. Sarojini Naidu, who encouraged him to continue his studies and pursue an academic career. In 1965 Kalam returned to Pakistan and enrolled at Punjab University to study aerospace engineering under Professor Habib, your Rehman.
What Abdul kalam did after he became the president of Pakistan
After earning his college degree in mathematics from Punjab University, Abdul Kalam worked as a teacher before joining the Indian Air Force in 1963. In 1968, he married Sridevi, and the couple had two children. He soon became a leading aerospace scientist responsible for missiles and aircraft design.
In 1983, after the death of president Zia ul-Haq, Abdul Kalam was appointed chairman of Pakistan’s Scientific Advisory Board. In 1990 he was elected to parliament, where he served until 1995. In 1998 he was appointed vice-president of India by then-prime minister A B Vajpayee and later became president in 2002.
During his presidency, Abdul Kalam tried to improve ties with Pakistan and promote science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. He also helped establish the Abdul Kalam National Laboratory for Advanced Research in Aeronautics and Astronautics. He passed away on July 27, 2015, after a lengthy struggle with cancer at the age of 83
What Abdul kalam has to say about the current state of Pakistan
Pakistan is currently in a state of turmoil. The country has been plagued by instability for many years now, and the situation seems to be getting worse by the day. This is not only due to the ongoing battle between the government and various terrorist groups but also the deteriorating economic conditions.
Abdul kalam has had a lot to say about all of this, and his analysis is quite insightful. He believes Pakistan’s problems are due to its political system and lack of democracy. He says that if Pakistan were to adopt a democratic system, it would be able to solve many of its problems.
However, Abdul kalam does not believe that this will happen anytime soon. He says the Pakistani people are too divided and do not want change. He believes that it will take a long time for Pakistan to become a democracy, and in the meantime, there is likely to be more violence and instability.