He Will Now Be Called Late Sir APJ Abdul Kalam
A Teacher No More
APJ Abdul Kalam had once said, “If the people remember me as a good teacher, that will be the biggest honour for me.” True to his words he breathed his last amongst students in Shillong. Even when he became the President in 2002, he made no compromise on his flair for teaching. He grabbed every opportunity to be with the students, especially children, wherever he went. Administering a pledge on national development to the youth was his passion. He always believed that teaching is one such noble profession that shapes the character, calibre and future of an individual.
A Dreamer No More
APJ Abdul Kalam was an institution-builder and a team-builder, a visionary and a dreamer. His dream was to build a strong and self-reliant India. And so he achieved. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Defence Minister R. Venkataraman, scientific advisor to the Defence Minister V.S. Arunachalam and Kalam were a formidable team in the early 1980s who visualised India to be a country with might in science and technology. Kalam devised every manoeuvre to beat the embargoes and sanction regimes including the Missile Technology Control Regime imposed on India following the Pokhran nuclear tests in 1974 and then in 1998.
A Motivator No More
APJ Abdul Kalam was an extremely focused man. No wonder, success followed him wherever he went. Even while addressing a gathering he would never fall short of words of motivation. The man inspired everyone he interacted with in life. He taught people to envisage a better future. He is already a subject in many of the B-schools across the country. His four books-“Wings of Fire”, “India 2020 – A Vision for the New Millennium”, “My journey” and “Ignited Minds – Unleashing the power within India” have become a household name in India and as well as abroad and has been translated in many Indian languages.
The Missile Man No More
APJ Abdul Kalam had a single-minded approach in leading projects and his connect with other scientists and the younger generation distinguished him from everybody else. His taking over the Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3) programme as its Project Director led to its spectacular success in 1980 and it was the turning point in India’s space programme. He was the man who envisioned India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) and led teams that built India’s Agni, Akash, Prithvi and Nag missile programmes. He was also instrumental in forging India’s collaboration with Russia to build the world’s first supersonic cruise missile called BrahMos.
A Gentleman No More
Former president APJ Abdul Kalam the former president was a great personality and gentleman. At the age of 84 he was still thinking of finding solutions to the country’s energy requirements. His contribution to the country and humanity are great and immense. Even when he occupied the top office he would come across as a down to earth person. He was highly educated, a science wizard and the man for the masses. The way he served the country, and the way he contributed to the younger generation, he will live on forever as a true gentleman.
For India Sir APJ Abdul Kalam was an icon, a ray of hope, which came at a time when things were a lot gloomier then present. His actions, his words meant a lot for the country, which he envisaged as better then all the rest. He came from a humble background, but what made him stand apart was his passion for the righteous, and even his critics could not say otherwise. He was a man of honour.
The way forward for India would be to remain focused on the path paved by the great soul. India as a country has to follow his principles to the core and work upon the core areas he worked upon. His vision for bringing forth the gen-next leaders and a fusion of technology will take India to the next level.
Sir APJ Abdul Kalam, we will miss you…….. Always.
Avdhesh Kr. Goel
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