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Dr Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on October 15, 1931, in a remote village of Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India. He was a former president of India and has been credited with putting India on the world’s space map. He was an Indian aerospace scientist who played a pivotal role in developing India’s first satellite launch vehicle, SLV-3. He played a crucial role in developing many missiles for India, including Agni and Prithvi.
He also served as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of India from 1992 to 1999. He formulated the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) and took it forward as Project Director. This article will learn about the great Indian aerospace scientist Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam and his contribution to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam’s Life and Education
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, to Jainulabdeen, who worked as a boatman. He belonged to an underprivileged family; his father owned a boat and was Imam in a local mosque. APJ Abdul Kalam’s father didn’t have an education but built an early life persona as a child. He had a great nature and enthusiastic mindset in APJ Kalam. After completing his primary education at a government school in Rameswaram, he joined Schwartz School for his higher education and then St Joseph’s College. After that, he got admission to the Madras Institute of Technology ( MIT).Â
Kalam obtained his master’s degree from Madras University in Aeronautical Engineering and later pursued higher studies at MIT, receiving his PhD in Aerospace. He studied physics and aerospace engineering at Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) and Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bangalore, before joining the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as an Indian aerospace scientist. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was a passionate follower of Bikram Sarabhai and Dr Kalaignar Karunanidhi and joined the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam’s Research
After graduating from MIT, he joined DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) as an Indian aerospace scientist in 1960. He became director of India’s first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) project. He led the development of SLV-III, which successfully injected the Rohini satellite into orbit in 1980. He also helped India develop its first Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which he later flew in 1987. Dr Kalam was responsible for developing the first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) that put Rohini satellite into orbit. He later went on to head ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. He was responsible for developing the SLV-III rocket system and working on designing and developing the Agni series of ballistic missiles.
Dr Kalam worked as Project Director for India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) that successfully injected the Rohini satellite into orbit at Sriharikota Range, Andhra Pradesh, India. He established a High Altitude Research Project (HARP) at Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station near Thiruvananthapuram.Â
He is popularly known as the Missile Man of India due to his work on India’s space and missile programs. His other notable works include the development of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP), which provides for the Agni missile series, SLV-3 technology demonstrator, and Prithvi surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile, Dhanush battlefield support artillery gun and other rockets like Abhay and Trishul.
During his tenure with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Kalam led several projects, such as Agni and Prithvi missile development programs which earned him a tremendous reputation in the country’s defence sector. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1981, Padma Vibushan in 1990, and the great civilian honour Bharat Ratna. His futuristic work with DRDO led to Indian science, but after becoming President of India, he returned it citing protocol issues because only civilians.
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam’s Political Journey
Dr Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, popularly known as Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, was the 11th President of India in 2002. He held the position for a second term from 2007 to 2012.Â
Conclusion
He also oversaw plans for India’s first human-crewed mission to space in 2004, but, sadly, it never got off the ground due to a lack of funding and support from other involved agencies, such as ISRO itself. They were more focused on launching satellites than sending people into space at this point. This article taught about great Indian aerospace scientist Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam and his contribution to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
