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Personalities from different fraternities along with the common man paid rich tributes to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=APJ+Abdul+Kalam">former Indian President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam</a>, who passed away at a Shillong hospital on July 27. 
 
Social media sites were flooded with quotes by Kalam and top political leaders shared their experiences and moments spent with the ‘<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=missile+man">Missile Man of India</a>’. 
 
Fondly known as ‘People’s President’, there have been many instances where Dr Kalam proved he was synonymous with humbles and simplicity. 
Once when he was the President, he refused to sit on a chair at convocation of a university as it was larger in size than other chairs. 
 
He had once rejected the idea of putting broken pieces of glass as it would be harmful for the birds. 
 
Reportedly, Dr Kalam invited a roadside cobbler and owner of a very small hotel as presidential guests to Kerala's Raj Bhavan during his first visit to the state. 
 
Here is a slideshow showing who all paid tributes to Dr Kalam and why Kalam is known as the ‘Missile Man’. 
 
We at Business Insider have created this unique platform for anyone who wants to pay homage to this the beloved Former President, APJ Abdul Kalam- the great leader, teacher, scientist and amongst many other things a visionary par excellence, even as he embarks upon his last journey. Just click on the link to pay your respects: 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Pay-your-last-respects-to-former-President-APJ-Abdul-Kalam/social/48249034.cms">http://www.businessinsider.in/Pay-your-last-respects-to-former-President-APJ-Abdul-Kalam/social/48249034.cms</a> 
 
 
(Images: PIB, DD, Amul Twitter)

Nation remembers Dr Kalam, pays rich tributes

<ul><li>APJ Abdul Kalam was a leader who contributed to the youth skilling and development initiatives. </li><li>In 2010, the <keyword id="6355833" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="united-nations">United Nations</keyword> honoured Kalam for his contribution to science, education and politics. Since then, October 15 is observed as World Student’s Day. </li><li>Four years ago, the Delhi government rolled out an education scheme Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Higher Education and Skill Education Guarantee Scheme — which aimed to extend education loans of upto ₹1 million to students. </li><li>According to him, the students should acquire two certificates from their school education — the highschool passing certificate and a skill-based achievement certificate.</li></ul>APJ Abdul Kalam wore many hats. Initially, the aerospace engineer was known as a <keyword id="445273" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Missile-Man">missile man</keyword> for his contribution to the development of ballistic missiles. But the scientist is better known for his views and work to develop the quality of education in India. He was in fact one of the first to recognize the need for skill development initiatives. The man who made progress across space technology, aeronautics, metallurgy and more--loved to spend time with children. One of his many heartwarming acts as a President is to cancel the traditional Iftar party and send the food to orphanages instead. He also designed lightweight prosthetics from space-age material which will help disabled children walk, and cycle too. In 2010, the United Nations honoured the man popularly known ‘People’s President’ and turned his birthday, October 15 into <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/world-students-day-2019-why-is-it-celebrated-on-apj-abdul-kalams-birth-anniversary-2116518">World Student’s Day.</a> “When learning is purposeful creativity blossoms, when creativity blossoms, thinking emanates. When thinking emanates, knowledge is fully lit. When knowledge is lit, economy flourishes,” Dr Kalam had famously said. Four years ago, the Delhi government also rolled out an <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/featurephilia/story/a.p.j.-abdul-kalams-expectations-from-the-indian-education-system-285156-2015-07-28">education scheme</a> called Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Higher Education and Skill Education Guarantee Scheme — which extends education loans of upto ₹1 million to students. Nourish them with skill-based learning Kalam believed in nourishing the country’s education system with skill-based learning. According to him, students should acquire two certificates — the highschool passing certificate and a skill-based achievement certificate. He had said that the school curriculum should emphasise on special training programmes to enhance skills which help find a job, and understand industry culture. "Teachers have to realize that they are the builders of the society. The society can be built only when the students are made proficient in their subjects. In addition, they have to provide a vision for life to students and also inculcate the fundamentals of values which he should practice in the years to come," he said. He promoted inculcating inquiry, creativity, technology, entrepreneurial and moral leadership in students. “If we develop in all our students these five capacities, we will produce an ‘autonomous learner’ a self-directed, self controlled, lifelong learner, who will have the capacity to both respect authority and at the same time is capable of questioning authority, in an appropriate manner,” he said.

The missile man who gave young Indians wings of fire and burning ambition

“Dream is not that which you see while sleeping, it is something that does not let you sleep.” Dr APJ Abdul <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=kalam">Kalam</a>, India’s 11th President who taught the youth of the country to weave beautiful dreams to attain success in life, passed away while delivering lecture at <keyword id="698776" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Institute-of-Management-Shillong">Indian Institute of Management Shillong</keyword> on Monday evening. 
 
Popularly known as ‘the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=MISSILE+MAN">Missile Man</a> of India’, Kalam suddenly collapsed while delivering a lecture on 'Livable <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=planet">Planet</a>' at the management institute. The 83-year-old was immediately wheeled into Bethany hospitals' ICU in a critical condition and was confirmed dead after more than two hours. 
 
The country’s first bachelor President, who was a career scientist turned reluctant politician, ruled over a million hearts as he was one amongst the most respected people of the country. 
 
Kalam was born and raised in Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram; and after studying physics and aerospace engineering, he had spent the next four decades as a scientist and science administrator, mainly at the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=drdo">DRDO </a>and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=isro">ISRO</a>. 
 He played a major role in India's civilian space program and military missile development efforts, and that is why he was regarded as ‘the <keyword id="1502002" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Missile-Man-of-India">Missile Man of India</keyword>.’ Kalam also played a pivotal organisational, technical and political role in India's <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=POKHRAN">Pokhran</a>-II nuclear tests that was conducted in 1998. And for his stupendous work, he received several prestigious awards, including the Bharat Ratna which is India's highest civilian honour. 
 Soon after the news of Kalam’s passing away went viral, <keyword id="6354616" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Twitter">Twitter</keyword> got flood with several mourning messages. Let’s take a look at how Twitterati bid adieu to their most <keyword id="2575675" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="beloved-president">beloved President</keyword> who motivated one and all with his inspiring words: 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	 India mourns the loss of a great scientist, a wonderful President &amp; above all an inspiring individual. RIP Dr. APJ <keyword id="5141" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Abdul-Kalam">Abdul Kalam</keyword>. — <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/625707431364988928">July 27, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Deeply saddened at the sudden demise of the former president of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. He was an inspiration to an entire generation. — <keyword id="6355121" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajnath-Singh">Rajnath Singh</keyword> (@BJPRajnathSingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJPRajnathSingh/status/625690556010594304">July 27, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	 Deeply saddened at the passing away of <keyword id="386134" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dr-APJ-Abdul-Kalam">Dr APJ Abdul Kalam</keyword>.A man of many parts-he won over the hearts&amp;minds of a nation with his warmth&amp;wisdom
	— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/625695656967929856">July 27, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Dr Kalam had many fans in J&amp;K, especially amongst the youth in Kashmir which in itself was no small feat. Rest in peace sir &amp; Godspeed. — <keyword id="19464" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Omar-Abdullah">Omar Abdullah</keyword> (@abdullah_omar) <a href="https://twitter.com/abdullah_omar/status/625695624105607168">July 27, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		T 1943 - A brilliant mind, a child like demeanour, simple caring and loved by all .. ex POI passes away .. PRAYERS <a href="http://t.co/MvKnWx9Vty">pic.twitter.com/MvKnWx9Vty</a> — <keyword id="6357912" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="amitabh-bachchan">Amitabh Bachchan</keyword> (@SrBachchan) <a href="https://twitter.com/SrBachchan/status/625751903616417792">July 27, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		An author , a teacher , a scientist and one of the best presidents India has ever seen ... RIP Dr. APJ Abdul kalam . — <keyword id="7638" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Neha-Dhupia">Neha Dhupia</keyword> (@NehaDhupia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NehaDhupia/status/625738449182535680">July 27, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Former President of India, a renowned scientist, an inspiration to all, a terrific human being...RIP Dr. Abdul Kalam (2/2) — <keyword id="6354267" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sachin-Tendulkar">sachin tendulkar</keyword> (@sachin_rt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/625707345939599361">July 27, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		India mourns the passing away of its most loved President,Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam:a true Bharat Ratna.Kids of our country will miss him the most.
	— Shobhaa De (@DeShobhaa) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeShobhaa/status/625705447392043009">July 27, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		RIP Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Sir..!! You will always be an inspiration for millions of ignited minds. :'( <a href="http://t.co/JkSSBu0Fj7">pic.twitter.com/JkSSBu0Fj7</a>
	— GarbageBin (@GarbageBinGags) <a href="https://twitter.com/GarbageBinGags/status/625702170541756416">July 27, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		A rare college day picture of the great Dr AJP <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AbdulKalam?src=hash">#AbdulKalam</a>..a man beyond religion boundary n made all to dream big! <a href="http://t.co/FhRiray3gJ">pic.twitter.com/FhRiray3gJ</a>
	— Ir.Kumar (@skumar176) <a href="https://twitter.com/skumar176/status/625807543172886528">July 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
We at Business Insider have created this unique platform for anyone who wants to pay homage to this the beloved Former President, APJ Abdul Kalam- the great leader, teacher, scientist and amongst many other things a visionary par excellence, even as he embarks upon his last journey. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/social/48249034.cms">Click here to pay your respects.</a>

(Image credit: Varjan Narja)

​India mourns the demise of 'People's President'

When late <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=APJ+Abdul+Kalam">APJ Abdul Kalam</a> took office as India’s President in 2002, many politicians, leaders were of the opinion that if he cut his hair, he would look much better. 
 
But, the apolitical President was quite vain about his silver locks. 
 
His haircut, which became famous as ‘Kalam cut’, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/1402097/Hair-comes-first-for-Indias-bachelor-president.html">according to a news report of 2002</a>, did not even please some parliamentarians. 
"My hair grows and grows, you cannot stop it - that fellow grows, it grows wild," the bachelor President once told a bemused interviewer. 
Kalam was also known for abandoning important conferences abruptly, only to return after an hour which he spent on his hair, making them look slick. 
 
Reportedly, he also had his hair trimmed every quarter. 
 
"He preens himself before the mirror before venturing out and often pulls a comb from his pocket and runs it lovingly through his hair,” a DRDO official had told Telegraph in 2002. 
 
Kalam passed away on July 27 in Shillong at a hospital at the age of 83. He began his life as a newspaper seller and went on to become the ‘Missile Man’ of India. 
 
Also Read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Mortal-remains-of-former-President-Kalam-being-brought-to-Delhi/articleshow/48247729.cms">http://www.businessinsider.in/Mortal-remains-of-former-President-Kalam-being-brought-to-Delhi/articleshow/48247729.cms</a> 
 
(Image: Reuters)

Former Indian President Kalam was very particular about his hair

Former <keyword id="2540" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="President">president</keyword> <keyword id="6402687" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="APJ-Abdul-Kalam">APJ Abdul Kalam</keyword> passed away after collapsing during a lecture at <keyword id="138328" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="IIM-Shillong">IIM Shillong</keyword> today. 
 
Doctors of the Bethany Hospital put him on oxygen and tried to revive him. He was reportedly in a critical condition. 
 
"He is in the intensive care unit. We are examining him. We suspect that it could be cardiac arrest," John Sailo Ryntathiang, Director of Bethany Hospital, told IAN. 
 
Kalam was the President of India from 2002-2007 and was there at IIM to attend a course on Liveable Planet Earth. Meghalaya Governor V Shanmughanathan and the Chief Secretary P B O Warjri visited the hospital. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

Ex-president Abdul Kalam passes away

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=APJ+Abdul+Kalam">Former Indian President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam</a> was laid to rest on Thursday with full military honours in Rameswaram. 
 
Reportedly, around one lakh people attended his funeral, and some even climbed on coconut trees, risking their lives, to pay final goodbye to ‘People’s President’. 
 
People carrying placards bearing Kalam’s photographs and famous quotes started lining up the funeral ground early in the morning. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Narendra+Modi">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a> along with other political personalities paid last respects. 
 
Here is a glimpse of what happened at the burial. 
 
(Images: PIB)

Incredible pictures from Dr Kalam’s funeral

Mortal remains of late former Indian President <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=APJ+Abdul+Kalam">APJ Abdul Kalam</a> arrived at Palam Airport in New Delhi from Guwahati on Tuesday. 
 Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, <keyword id="6354814" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="prime-minister-Narendra-Modi">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</keyword>, along with Three Service Chiefs paid homage to Kalam. 
 
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were also present. 
 
 
 
Public can pay homage to the late President from 3pm onwards at 10 Rajaji Marg in New Delhi. 
 
 
 
The last rites will take place at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu. 
 
People from all walks of life took to social media and paid homage to the apolitical President. Kalam led the scientific team that developed missiles able to carry India's nuclear warheads. 
 
He became a national hero after helping oversee nuclear tests in 1998 that solidified India's status as a nuclear weapons state. India's first atomic test was in 1974. 
 
Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=smriti+irani">Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani</a> announced Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan to be renamed as APJ Abdul Kalam Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan. 
 
Telangana Government has announced holiday, whereas the Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to work one hour extra to pay tribute to the late President. 
 
Kalam died on Monday (July 27) from a cardiac arrest at the age of 83. 
 
Kalam, popularly known as 'Missile Man', was delivering a lecture in Shillong when he collapsed and was rushed to Bethany Hospital. 
 
Kalam’s last tweet was: 
 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Going to Shillong.. to take course on Livable Planet earth at iim. With <a href="https://twitter.com/srijanpalsingh">@srijanpalsingh</a> and Sharma.
	— In memoryof Dr.Kalam (@APJAbdulKalam) <a href="https://twitter.com/APJAbdulKalam/status/625546195205648384">July 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
 
We at Business Insider have created this unique platform for anyone who wants to pay homage to this the beloved Former President, APJ Abdul Kalam- the great leader, teacher, scientist and amongst many other things a visionary par excellence, even as he embarks upon his last journey. Just click on the link to pay your respects: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/social/48249034.cms">http://www.businessinsider.in/social/48249034.cms</a> 
 
(Images: ANI Twitter)

President Pranab Mukherjee, PM Modi pay homage to Dr Kalam at Delhi airport

<ul><li><keyword id="6554535" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dhruv-Prajapati">Dhruv Prajapati</keyword> a young arachnological researcher from <keyword id="6354766" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gujarat">Gujarat</keyword> has identified seven confirmed new species of <keyword id="23924" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Spiders">spiders</keyword> in India.</li><li>He has named one of his discoveries Tropizodium <keyword id="5350457" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kalami">Kalami</keyword> after the country’s late President Dr APJ <keyword id="5141" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Abdul-Kalam">Abdul Kalam</keyword>.</li><li>He maintains that spiders are incredibly beneficial - they help regulate insect population and some species can even help determine soil toxicity.</li></ul>It’s tiny, it has eight legs, it is mostly harmless, yet it is one of the most feared creatures on Earth. Yes, we are talking about the humble, albeit slightly creepy, spider. And while most humans can’t resist picking up a broom to shoo the tiny arachnid away, a few stare at the creature with pure fascination. Dhruv Prajapati, a young researcher from Gujarat, is one of them. The 26-year-old has merged his passion with his studies and is one of very few arachnological researchers in India. In fact, while researching for his Master’s dissertation he managed to identify 77 species of spiders all within the Gujarat University campus in India. Some of these were quite rare and few knew of their existence in the state. In 2016, he was awarded the Young Naturalist Award by Sanctuary Asia, a well-known wildlife and nature conservation magazine from India. We spoke to the young man who is now pursuing a PhD in spider diversity from the Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. Over the past three years, he has conducted an in-depth study on these creatures spanning from the Western Ghats of Gujarat to Maharashtra, Goa and Kerala. 
	
	<div type="image" title="DSC00391" msid="64291035" hostid="261"></div>




 During his research, Prajapati has identified seven confirmed new species of spiders in India. <ul><li>Two of these belong to the ant-eating spider genus Tropizodium that are incredibly rare and have for the first time been reported from India. He has named one of these Kalami, after the country’s late President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and the other is called viridurbium. </li><li>The third and the fourth species, Cambalida tuma and Cambalida deorsa, belong to the genus Cambalida that was so far believed to be endemic to Africa and were reported by Dhruv for the first time in Asia.</li><li>The fifth and the sixth species are from the jumping spider family Salticidae - Stenaelurillus gabrieli (named after Padmabhushan awardee Dr Fr. Gabriel CMI, founder of the zoology department in Sacred Heart College, Thevara, Kochi), and Langelurillus onyx. Langelurillus is also an African genus and was reported in Asia for the first time. </li><li>And the seventh one is Meotipa multuma from the family Theridiidae.</li></ul> All these new findings were published in <a href="http://www.mapress.com/j/zt/">Zootaxa</a>, one of the world’s leading scientific journals from New Zealand. He is also working on a bunch of research papers on new species, which, when approved by the international reviewers, will be added to his kitty of discoveries. On being questioned on how dangerous the feared creatures are, he emphatically replied, “most species are not harmful. And while almost all species have a certain amount of venom, they can only harm small creatures that are their prey and if they happen to bite a human, which is quite rare, they can cause just a small infection.” That being said, Australian and North American spiders are much more venomous though they don’t attack humans very often. Not only are spiders supremely beneficial, some species are really quite pretty. A particular favourite of Prajapati’s is the peacock spider, that is found in Australia. Like birds, the male spiders court females by showing off their colourful abdomen, that have flaps which they raise while dancing, to impress the female. He also reiterated how important spiders are to our ecology. “Spiders help in regulating insect population. In fact, 80% of the insect population is eradicated by spiders, which is much more than that of birds, and this helps farmers significantly.” Ground spiders can also detect soil toxicity as they are sensitive to metal pollution in soil. And should they enter your homes, hold back your urge to screech and call for help, for they are also getting rid of the actual pests in your house, including mosquitoes and other bugs that bite, annoy and spread disease.

This 26-year-old has a strange passion for a creepy-crawly and has seven discoveries to his name

India’s first unmanned tank developed by the <keyword id="152819" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Defence-Research-and-Development-Organisation">Defence Research and Development Organisation</keyword> (<keyword id="6355142" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="DRDO">DRDO</keyword>) has been rolled out of the Chennai lab. <keyword id="4825319" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="muntra">Muntra</keyword>, the unmanned tank, has three variants - surveillance, mine detection and reconnaissance in areas with nuclear and bio threats. It is likely to be used in Naxal-hit areas. Recently, two remotely operated vehicles designed like an armoured tank were on display at an exhibition as a tribute to former President APJ <keyword id="5141" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Abdul-Kalam">Abdul Kalam</keyword>. Muntra-S has been developed for unmanned surveillance missions, whereas Muntra-M is built for detecting mines. Muntra-N, on the other hand, will be deployed in areas where nuclear radiation or bio weapon risk is high. The vehicle has been tested. It’s surveillance radar, which has an integrated camera can be used to spy on ground target 15km away. DRDO chairman S Christopher said the organisation was working on installing AWAC (Airborne Early Warning and Control System) on an A330 aircraft. The system is now perfected for use on a smaller Embraer plane.

India’s first unmanned tank Muntra is here. Here are the details

Former President, top scientist, <keyword id="100256" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharat-Ratna">Bharat Ratna</keyword>, these are just some of the titles that come before the name of Dr AJP Abdul <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=kalam">Kalam</a>, who passed away on Monday while delivering lecture at <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=iim">IIM </a>Shillong. 
 
Born on October 15, 1931 in a family of a boat owner in Tamil Nadu’s Rameshwaram, Kalam survived all hardship to grow big in life. He distributed newspaper at one to time to support his family and education. 
 After pursuing graduation in Physics from Madras University, AJP <keyword id="5141" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Abdul-Kalam">Abdul Kalam</keyword> decide to take up Aerospace Engineering as he then desired to become a fighter pilot. But the destiny had some bigger plans for him. Traversing through his career journey at the <keyword id="6355142" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="DRDO">DRDO</keyword>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=isro">ISRO</a>, Chief Scientific Advisor to the <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> in 1992, the <keyword id="858029" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pokhran-nuclear-test">Pokhran nuclear test</keyword>, he was ultimately elected as India’s 11th President in 2002. 
 
And what Kalam will always be remembered for is, a President who brought people to the Rashtrapati Bhawan and this is what made him the ‘People’s President'. 
 
Once the 83-year-old had said, “It is very easy to defeat someone, but it is very hard to win someone.” And certainly it’s his inspiring words through which he rules over a million hearts. 
 
Abhishek Sharma, a software developed, shared on Quora, “Once, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam rejected the suggestion to put broken glass on the wall of a building that needed protection. Why? Because broken glass would be harmful for birds! This happened when Dr Kalam was with the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=drdo">DRDO </a>and his team was discussing options to secure the perimeter of a building that needed protection. Dr Kalam reportedly said, “If we do that, birds will not be able to perch on the wall.” 
 
The other instance is when Quora user Naman Narain drew a sketch of Dr Kalam and sent it to the President. To his surprise, the President sent him a thank you card, with a short handwritten message and personalised with his signature. 
 
At a convocation ceremony of IIT (BHU) Varanasi, Dr Kalam was the Chief Guest. There were five chairs on the stage, the centre one being for him, the other four designated for the top university officials. Noticing his chair being bigger in size than the others, Dr Kalam refused to sit on it and offered the Vice Chancellor to sit in stead. Immediately, another chair was made available for the ‘People’s president.’ 
 Another action that displays down-to-earth demeanour of Dr Kalam is that during his first visit to <keyword id="165422" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Trivandrum">Trivandrum</keyword> as the then President, he was entitled to invite anyone as the “Presidential Guests” to Kerala’s <keyword id="138" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Raj-Bhavan">Raj Bhavan</keyword>. And as Dr Kalam had spent a significant time as a scientist in Trivandrum, he invited a road-side cobbler – who was quite close to him during his time in Kerela; and so was the owner of the small hotel where Dr Kalam would often have his meals. Can you ever imagine any other politician or a celebrity of his stature inviting a cobbler and a small business owner as his/her most prestigious guests? 
 <keyword id="6359039" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sourav-Ganguly">Sourav Ganguly</keyword>, who received the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=padma+shri">Padma Shri</a> from Dr Kalam in 2004, recalls instances of the Indian <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=cricket">Cricket </a>team's interactions with the former President after finishing runners-up in the 2003 <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=world+cup">World Cup</a> in South Africa. "I remember he wished the team. I remember <keyword id="6364325" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anil-Kumble">Anil Kumble</keyword> asked him about his subject. He knew little about cricket and we tried to explain to him how 11 men move around a cricket ball. But whenever we met him we realised that his world and thinking was different. He has become the President of India but his thought process is different from the others," said Ganguly, regarding India’s missile man as a visionary. 
(Image: economisty.com) 


We at Business Insider have created this unique platform for anyone who wants to pay homage to this the beloved Former President, APJ Abdul Kalam- the great leader, teacher, scientist and amongst many other things a visionary par excellence, even as he embarks upon his last journey. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/social/48249034.cms">Click here to pay your respects</a>.

This is how Dr APJ Abdul Kalam touched lives of #AamAadmi

<keyword id="1826774" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="former-Indian-President">Former Indian President</keyword> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=APJ+Abdul+Kalam">Dr A P J Abdul Kalam</a> died in <keyword id="57704" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shillong">Shillong</keyword> on Monday. That was about the same day, when India experienced a bout of terrorism in Punjab. Was it something of a coincidence? Kalam, the peace keeper was igniting minds about making earth a liveable place at a seminar, as per his last tweet; and a few thousand kilometres away, a society was disintegrating itself with a terror strike. 
 
Kalam spoke the language of peace. But, his work as a scientist often contradicted his words. Why did he work on building missiles and play an instrumental role in Pokhran Test Range second time around, as part of India’s nuclear programme in 1998? His words on peace, that came much later, didn’t seem to resonate the spirit with this incident. However, this is where people didn’t read his intention as well as they saw his gestures. 
 
He was someone who believed in self-defence. A country that was well-defended with latest technology didn’t have to fear anyone. Believing in peace was his innate faith, but that didn’t mean he would sit without preparing for any eventualities should the enemies strike at once. 
 
His road to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, to don the chair of 11 th President of India between 2002 and 2007 was more or less apolitical. He had worked with various governments and had no enemies across partylines. A scientist to the core, Kalam was a people’s man through every second of his existence. 
 
No sooner did the news of his death break on the internet, social networks went berserk. In the days where role models are few and clean images even fewer, Dr Kalam was someone who was not only rare to find, but also difficult to contain. His charisma and aura was a challenge to anybody who believed personal brand building was an exercise to be done by PR agencies. 
 
His demeanour was spirited, honest and forthcoming. There has hardly been any other politician in the recent times who has been as popular and as interactive. 
 
Kalam had a rare gift. He was untiring when it came to imparting his experience to anyone who cared to listen. His core audience was young minds. He loved being amidst them, administer them an oath of honesty and integrity, make them say they would never indulge in corruption and ensure tomorrow’s India was at least aware of the ill effects of corruption. 
 
Majority of the students and persons who posted on social media soon after his death had only praises for him. While it is normal for people to sing praises about the dead, it is imperative to know Kalam was among those rare people who genuinely left a feeling of loss and void among people’s hearts. At 83, he was sprightly and focused. 
 
An author of several books, Kalam was deeply obliging of people who wanted some moments with him. A picture here, a signed copy of a book there, a lecture someone else, a closely interactive meeting with someone who sought his time; Kalam hardly turned anyone down unless he was pressed for time. 
 
Though <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=NDA">NDA </a>led by <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=BJP+">BJP </a>put forth his name for the President, Kalam had no enemies in the then Opposition party of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Congress+">Congress </a>at all. He was NDA's poster boy of sorts since he had just completed Pokhran II to bring laurels to the then Prime Minister <keyword id="47100" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword>. <keyword id="6366153" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Defence-Minister">Defence minister</keyword> <keyword id="2972300" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Geroge-Fernandes">Geroge Fernandes</keyword> was completely on his side and all the contributions he had to make, for India as a <keyword id="1435588" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Missile-scientist">missile scientist</keyword>. He was known as ‘Missile Man’ much against the soft person who lived inside him. 
 
He checked into Rashtrapathi Bhavan, the abode of the President of India and opened doors of this magnificent structure to the public. People could visit him, meet him and talk to him with shortest of the formalities. He mainly responded to children with utmost keenness, even if they sent them a letter or a book, they were sure to get a response in return. 
 Monday when he died, almost every person on social media has a picture with him on some occasion or the other. Such was the reach of this man who never forgot his roots lie in that quaint village of <keyword id="194058" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ramanathapuram">Ramanathapuram</keyword> in Tamil Nadu. A south Indian who rose to the highest office, just for doing his job with utmost passion is a story that legends are made of. 
 
He died doing what he loved the best. Parting with his energy, his conviction, and commitment to integrity, and igniting minds with new ideas. He collapsed on the dais where he was delivering a lecture, and passed away probably at that instant, amidst keen young minds which were getting inspired to do something for the country. 
 
Image: indiatimes

APJ Abdul Kalam: A flaming torch that ignited young minds

You often hear people confer over India divided into two factions – ‘Do Bharat’ – but I always maintain that India has three parts; yesterday, today and tomorrow. 
 
As a child, back in my village in Odisha, I saw my father and his generation struggle every day. We barely managed two meals a day for the entire family. There would be major calculations and second thoughts at every level, every decision, whether it was the marriage of my two sisters, or our education. I remember my father making a lot of tough choices, selling off land, my mother’s jewellery and what not, to make ends meet. But it is during tough times, when we have to make tough choices that we come face to face with who we truly are. And I like who we were back then. 
 
There was a rawness about us, an unabashed goodness and vulnerability that I miss today. We were people of small means, but I believe we had the judgment to know the important things in life. I’m not sure I can say the same about our present. 
 
We knew how to value things and people, resources– water, food, land – the earth, our environment, relationships. Today, we seem to be going off in a different direction. Not just wandering, but ostensibly lost. 
 
Joint families back then were a blessing. They might not have seemed like one, of course there were fights and altercations, but what it gave us was a sense of family, of belonging, a set of values instilled in us from day one. In fact, not just families, there was a sense of community among neighbours. Whether in our village or in small towns or even in small societies in the cities, there was a support system that helped us grow as individuals not in isolation, but together, as one. Now that is a country I can call my own – Unity in Diversity, isn’t that how our great leaders envisioned India post- independence? 
 
When one talks of Indian values and heritage, I believe this is what they mean. But alas, today, we are so far away from it that it seems like a mythical and strange, quite like stories from Mahabharata or Ramayana would seem to our future generations. When I tell my nine-year-old son stories from my village as a kid, he doesn’t believe them and you can’t blame him, because we have rid ourselves of even the faintest footprints of the past. That glorious India has disappeared within a span of the last 10-15 years, not even two decades. 
 Whatever I have managed to make of myself today, an independent filmmaker, <keyword id="55" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="social-activist">social activist</keyword>, entrepreneur, I have seen a lot of change in my immediate surroundings, and I can see for myself how my son cannot possibly relate to my childhood in this day and age. It becomes very conflicting for me to see everything we valued at the time, become redundant and obsolete like archiving old photographs in an album, rather than actually living those values. I guess even I have come so far, that a part of me cannot recognize my roots anymore. These changes are what make me wonder today, about what our country could become tomorrow. Of course, development is a natural process, but is that what you would call this? An unprecedented influx of new money and no value system to call our own, is this the idea behind ‘India Shining’ or ‘Bharat Nirmaan’? Who are Indians – who are we? More than two-third of the population that lives in abject poverty, compared with the 100-150 corporations that run this country? 
 
The ‘philanthropic’ bureaucrats and politicians, compared with the ‘altruistic’ urban elite artists and celebrities? It is this schizophrenic identity of India that continues to cause disintegration of our borders as well as our people. Are newer states and further fragmentation of our people the only answer we are left with? I doubt this is what our Constitution means when it says ‘Unity in Diversity’. 
 
Till date, there exists a fierce struggle for every basic human need, whether food, water or shelter. Yet another need that has cropped up in recent times, and is sure to increase over the next years, is the lack of farmland. There is neither enough green cover, nor enough fertile land to do anything about it, in this race to industrialize and privatize all resources. This is going to soon lead to a nationwide food crisis, in addition to the existing water crisis, both man-made. We are simply paying for our exploitation all these years. 
 
Imagine a country that was once known for its beauty and treasures, even called the ‘Golden Bird’ for its heritage and wealth, has been brought to utter ruin, first at the hands of colonialism, and ever since, at the hands of our very own people. What we continue to do, without fail, is depend on Westerners for all advice and counsel, instead of looking back at our own legacy. Look at our fashion, for example. We live in a country where every 100 kilometres, colour changes, landscape changes, people change, clothes change, but does any of that reflect in our fashion trends? It is a miserable state of affairs that we choose to look outward, towards the West once again, instead of inward for inspiration. 
 
It is true that India has developed by leaps and bounds as far as communication is concerned. We have come a long way in a short span of time, but once again, the implementation of that technology is disastrous. Today, there are more mobile phones than people in India. Isn’t that an interesting fact about a country with close to 300 million people going without food? India, the hunger capital of the world, home to about one-third of the world’s hungry poor. 
 
The world is laughing at us. Growing at a rate of 1.4 percent per year, India will soon beat China to become the country with the largest population in the world. But it is like somebody said – population is an asset. Look at how China has used it as a tool to create some of the largest manufacturing industries and production plants in existence, making the rest of the world completely dependent on their products. Look at some of the European countries – they are tired of giving retirement salary to its citizens. What India needs to realize is the power of its youth; a young population automatically means a more productive country, both intellectually and otherwise. What we need to concentrate on is giving them the right healthcare, the right education, and the right opportunities, and then nothing can stop this country from flourishing. 
 And of course, as mentioned before, the right value system. Like former President of India, Dr. APJ <keyword id="5141" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Abdul-Kalam">Abdul Kalam</keyword> always maintains, we have become nuclearized living in this nuclear family structure; each person has become nuclearized from their own selves. A very dark issue that is born out of this indifference is child labour, which I have researched and worked on extensively. Findings prove that India will never be able to get out of this stranglehold, not because of desperate circumstances or poverty, but solely due to habit, clubbed with indifference. One, there is a hangover of oppression in our veins, we as a nation are too used to being on either side of it, it has become something we cannot do without anymore. Two, there is a major lack of respect for any human life in India, especially the two ends of the spectrum – children and old people. 
 
When we talk of our future, the dream of a new India, it is only our children who can make that dream come true. It is not about money or power or politics, but about going back to that value system that we once had and cherished from ancient times. As an Indian, what are we doing for our country? 
 Going further down India’s schizophrenic lanes, we are a country of extremes. The richest man constructs one of the tallest buildings in the country to reside in the same city that houses one of the largest slums in the world. Both Delhi and Mumbai have become two of the richest cities with increasingly fast property rates that are at par with property rates in New York and <keyword id="6369186" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Manhattan">Manhattan</keyword>. All these statistics and facts have resulted in an India that is a living paradox for the world to watch, and maybe take down notes on ‘how not to do things’. 
 It is the feudalistic system that we need to get rid of. Overcoming this great imbalance between the rich and the poor should be our first and foremost priority, and not the biggest brands like <keyword id="6377922" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Starbucks">Starbucks</keyword>, or the biggest chain like <keyword id="80487" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="walmart">Walmart</keyword>, or the biggest <keyword id="44528" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="FDI">FDI</keyword> like <keyword id="46932" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="POSCO">POSCO</keyword> coming to the country. We need to realize the value of a person, a human life, and respect ourselves, be proud of our heritage, and not ape outsiders. Follow our own ancestors’ footsteps instead of others. Else, we will soon be heading towards a recession similar to the one experienced by the West, where we can see entire nations collapsing economically, through disasters, natural and man-made, in addition to constant wars outside and inside.

Thinkers/Thinkers 50: The concept of ‘Unity in Diversity’ has lost meaning in India

<keyword id="3319875" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Veenu-Paliwal">Veenu Paliwal</keyword>, counted amongst the very best female bikers from India, passed away yesterday after being involved in a tragic bike accident in Vidisha district, Madhya Pradesh. Paliwal, who was known to have rode a Harley Davidson at the speed of 180 kmph in the past, met her tragic end when her bike skid off the main road, leading to several injuries that proved to be fatal. 
 
While it’s outright tragic that we lost a talented biker to a freakish accident, one can find solace in the fact that she died doing what she had loved doing her entire life, riding her Harley Davidson. 
 
Not everyone is lucky enough to identify their passion in life, let alone live it and die for it. Here is a list of seven other celebrities who left the world smiling, because the last thing they did was what they had lived for. 
 
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153962502131165&amp;set=a.465353836164.254436.616451164&amp;type=3&amp;theater">Image source</a>

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You Searched For "Abdul Kalam passes away" and got 13 results

Nation remembers Dr Kalam, pays rich tributes

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​India mourns the demise of 'People's President'

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Former Indian President Kalam was very particular about his hair

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India mourns the demise of 'People's President'