DR. A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM

 

DR. A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM

Born on 15th October 1931 at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, specialized in Aeronautical Engineering from Madras Institute of Technology. Dr. Kalam made significant contribution as Project Director to develop India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) which successfully injected the Rohini satellite in the near earth orbit in July 1980 and made India an exclusive member of Space Club. He was responsible for the evolution of ISRO's launch vehicle programme, particularly the PSLV configuration. After working for two decades in ISRO and mastering launch vehicle technologies, Dr. Kalam took up the responsibility of developing Indigenous Guided Missiles at Defence Research and Development Organisation as the Chief Executive of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). He was responsible for the development and operationalisation of AGNI and PRITHVI Missiles and for building indigenous capability in critical technologies through networking of multiple institutions. He was the Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister and Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development from July 1992 to December 1999. During this period he led to the weaponisation of strategic missile systems and the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in collaboration with Department of Atomic Energy, which made India a nuclear weapon State. He also gave thrust to self-reliance in defence systems by progressing multiple development tasks and mission projects such as Light Combat Aircraft. As Chairman of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) and as an eminent scientist, he led the country with the help of 500 experts to arrive at Technology Vision 2020 giving a road map for transforming India from the present developing status to a developed nation. Dr. Kalam has served as the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, in the rank of Cabinet Minister, from November 1999 to November 2001 and was responsible for evolving policies, strategies and missions for many development applications. Dr. Kalam was also the Chairman, Ex-officio, of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet (SAC-C) and piloted India Millennium Mission 2020. Dr. Kalam took up academic pursuit as Professor, Technology & Societal Transformation at Anna University, Chennai from November 2001 and was involved in teaching and research tasks. Above all he took up a mission to ignite the young minds for national development by meeting high school students across the country. In his literary pursuit four of Dr. Kalam's books - "Wings of Fire", "India 2020 - A Vision for the New Millennium", "My journey" and "Ignited Minds - Unleashing the power within India" have become household names in India and among the Indian nationals abroad. These books have been translated in many Indian languages. Dr. Kalam is one of the most distinguished scientists of India with the unique honour of receiving honorary doctorates from 30 universities and institutions. He has been awarded the coveted civilian awards - Padma Bhushan (1981) and Padma Vibhushan (1990) and the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna (1997). He is a recipient of several other awards and Fellow of many professional institutions. Dr. Kalam became the 11th President of India on 25th July 2002. His focus is on transforming India into a developed nation by 2020. पुरस्कार एवं सम्मान सम्मान का वर्ष सम्मान/पुरस्कार का नाम प्रदाता संस्था 2014 डॉक्टर ऑफ़ साइन्स एडिनबर्ग विश्वविद्यालय, यूनाइटेड किंगडम[61] 2012 डॉक्टर ऑफ़ लॉज़ (मानद उपाधि) साइमन फ़्रेज़र विश्वविद्यालय[62] 2011 आइ॰ई॰ई॰ई॰ मानद सदस्यता आइ॰ई॰ई॰ई॰[63] 2010 डॉक्टर ऑफ इन्जीनियरिंग यूनिवर्सिटी ऑफ़ वाटरलू[64] 2009 मानद डॉक्टरेट ऑकलैंड विश्वविद्यालय[65] 2009 हूवर मेडल ए॰एस॰एम॰ई॰ फाउण्डेशन, (सं॰रा॰अमे॰)[66] 2009 वॉन कार्मन विंग्स अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय अवार्ड कैलिफोर्निया इंस्टीट्यूट ऑफ टेक्नोलॉजी, (सं॰रा॰अमे॰)[67] 2008 डॉक्टर ऑफ इन्जीनियरिंग (मानद उपाधि) नानयांग टेक्नोलॉजिकल विश्वविद्यालय, सिंगापुर[68] 2008 डॉक्टर ऑफ साइन्स (मानद उपाधि) अलीगढ़ मुस्लिम विश्वविद्यालय, अलीगढ़[69] 2007 डॉक्टर ऑफ साइन्स एण्ड टेक्नोलॉजी की मानद उपाधि कार्नेगी मेलन विश्वविद्यालय[70] 2007 किंग चार्ल्स II मेडल रॉयल सोसायटी, यूनाइटेड किंगडम[71][72] 2007 डॉक्टर ऑफ साइन्स की मानद उपाधि वूल्वरहैंप्टन विश्वविद्यालय, यूनाईटेड किंगडम[73] 2000 रामानुजन पुरस्कार अल्वार्स शोध संस्थान, चेन्नई[74] 1998 वीर सावरकर पुरस्कार भारत सरकार[75] 1997 इंदिरा गाँधी राष्ट्रीय एकता पुरस्कार भारतीय राष्ट्रीय काँग्रेस[75][74] 1997 भारत रत्न भारत सरकार[6][74][76] 1994 विशिष्ट शोधार्थी इंस्टीट्यूट ऑफ़ डायरेक्टर्स (इण्डिया)[77] 1990 पद्म विभूषण भारत सरकार[74][6][78] 1981 पद्म भूषण भारत सरकार