Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Death Anniversary: Interesting Facts about Missile Man of India

Today is the 7th death anniversary of our most beloved former President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. He is known as the ‘People’s President of India’ loved and respected by every single citizen of India. He is a man of simplicity and honor.

He died on 27th July 2015, suffered from sudden cardiac arrest, and collapsed on stage, while addressing the students of IIM Shillong.

On his death anniversary, we are going to address some of the Interesting facts about the life of the former President and Missile Man of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.

Interesting facts about Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam:

1) Dr. Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 in Rameswaram, the then Madras Presidency to a Tamil Muslim family.

2) His full name is Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam.

3) Dr. Abdul Kalam was born in a poor family, His father was the Imam of a local mosque, who owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.

4) During his school time, he had to sell newspapers to help with his family's meager income.

5) He did his engineering in Aerospace at Madras Institute of Technology.

6) He wanted to join the Air force as a fighter pilot but failed just by one position. He placed 9th and only 8 positions were available in IAFs.

7) Fate had a different path for Dr. Kalam and he joined Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) as a scientist.

8) In 1969 he joined ISRO as a project director to build India's first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV III) and they launched the satellite Rohini.

9) Dr. Kalam knows as a Missile Man because he helped in building India's first ballistic missiles 'Agni' and 'Prithvi’.

10) If you have already watched Parmanu movie, you know India’s successful nuclear test program in Pokhran, Rajsthan in 1998. Dr. Kalam was the Chief Project Co-ordinator of this nuclear test program.

11) There was an interesting story behind the Pokhran nuclear test. Dr. Abdul Kalam was known by the name Major Gen Prithviraj and wore a military Uniform. These code names were given to all prominent scientists who were involved in a nuclear test, to maintain the secrecy of the project from the US surveillance satellites.

12) One of the Interesting Facts about Dr. Kalam’s life is he received honorary doctorates from 40 national and international universities.

13) ‘Wings of Fire’ Dr. Kalam’s autobiography is the first choice of every student in India. First published in English but later because of its popularity published in 13 languages.

14) Vikram Sarabhai a famous Indian Physicist and astronomer had a great impact on Dr. APJ Kalam. He mentored Kalam during his time in INCOSPAR as a rocket engineer. He quoted once that he had a deeply emotional and intellectual relationship with Vikram Sarabhai.

15) The new Plant species Drypetes Kalamii named after him was discovered in two protected National Parks in West Bengal, by scientists of the Botanical Survey of India in February 2018.

16) Included in the interesting facts about Dr. APJ Kalam, NASA named the microorganism discovered in International Space Station named after him to honor the great scientist. Bacterium name is Solibacillus Kalamii.

17) Wheeler Island in Odisha name changed to Dr. Abdul Kalam Island in honor of Dr. Kalam.

18) Dr. Abdul Kalam’s speech in European Union Parliament is still considered to be the best and most inspiring.

19) One of the most moving or heart-touching moments of his last rite was when Marshal of Air Force Arjan Singh, who was 96 at the time and wheelchair bounded paid his last tribute to him.

20) Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam's birth date 15th October is celebrated in India as Student Day to honor this great man, who always shows his love and affection to students