Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, the missile man of India is no more. I intended to keep this post smaller to share my deepest condolences; thought to share only his accomplishments but in doing so I fail to keep my promise to keep it short. (And I think I’ve not covered it all!)
Below is a list of remarkable achievements by People’s President:
Awards:
- Padma Bhushan-1981
- Padma Vibhushan-1990
- Bharat Ratna, Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration-1997
- Veer Savarkar Award-1998
- Ramanujan Award-2000
- Hoover Medal-2009
Books by Dr. Kalam:
- Beyond 2020: A vision for tomorrow’s India
- Envisioning an Empowered Nation: Technology for Societal Transformation
- Forge for Future
- Governance for growth in India
- Guiding souls: Dialogues on the purpose of life
- Ignited minds
- India 2020: A vision for the new millennium
- Indomitable spirit
- Inspired India: Ideas to transform a nation
- Inspiring Thoughts
- Life Tree: Poems
- Luminous spark
- Manifesto for change
- Mission India: A vision for Indian youth
- My journey: Transforming dreams into actions
- Scientific Indian: A twenty-first century guide to the world around us
- Target three billion
- Thoughts for change: We can do it
- Turning points: A journey through challenges
- Wings of fire: An autobiography
Quotes:
- You have to dream before your dreams can come true.
- Great dreams of great dreamers are always transcend.
- To succeed in our mission, you must have single-minded devotion to your goal.
- God, our Creator, has stored within our minds and personalities, great potential strength and ability. Prayer helps us tap and develop these powers.
- Excellence is a continuous process and not an accident.
- Creativity is the key to success in the future, and primary education is where teachers can bring creativity in children at that level.
- Life is a difficult game. You can win it only by retaining your birthright to be a person.
- One of the very important characteristics of a student is to question. Let the students ask questions.
- Almost half of the population of the world lives in rural regions and mostly in a state of poverty. Such inequalities in human development have been one of the primary reasons for unrest and, in some parts of the world, even violence.
- We will be remembered only if we give to our younger generation a prosperous and safe India, resulting out of economic prosperity coupled with civilization heritage.
- The bird is powered by its own life and by its motivation.
Speeches:
- Teachers Should Be Role Models’ ( 05 Sep 2003): http://creative.sulekha.com/teachers-should-be-role-models-speech-by-dr-a-p-j-abdul-kalam-on-teachers-day-2003_344272_blog
- APJ Abdul Kalam’s Speech at IIT-Hyderabad ( 21 Sept 2013) : http://www.youthconnect.in/2013/09/21/greatest-speeches-dr-apj-abdul-kalams-speech-hyderabad/
- Time to Ignite Young Minds ( 10 Sept 2011 ): http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/a.p.j.-abdul-kalam-on-indian-scientists-at-the-forefront-of-research/1/150720.html
- Righteousness & World Peace: Abdul Kalam’s Brilliant EU Speech: https://in.news.yahoo.com/righteousness—world-peace–abdul-kalam-s-brilliant-eu-speech-171758789.html
- Foundation Day Lecture @ National Institute of Open Schooling : http://www.nios.ac.in/videos/foundationday-transcript.html
Interviews:
- India’s A.P.J. Abdul Kalam ( 30 Nov 1998 ) : http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2040386,00.html
- ‘A Leader Should Know How to Manage Failure’ ( Interview , 03 Apr 2008) : http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/former-president-apj-abdul-kalam-a-leader-should-know-how-to-manage-failure/
- Q&A: Former President Kalam on Eradicating Poverty ( 09 Jan 2012 ) : http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2012/01/09/qa-former-president-kalam-on-eradicating-poverty/