What Kalam gave India?

Earnest tributes to APJ Abdul Kalam! From being Missile Man of India, he became the ‘People’s President’. He was a true inspiration for the Indians. Though his achievements were in varied genre, he made India a pioneer in many areas which few could have managed to do.

1. APJ Abdul Kalam was extensively involved in Indian space program and ballistic missile development programme of India. Aptly earned the title Missile Man of India, he gave India her entire indigenous missile program. Project Valiant and Project Devil, ballistic missile development projects, were spearheaded by him.

2. He was the project director of India’s first satellite launch vehicle (SLV III) that successfully deployed Rohini-1 in near earth orbit in July 1980. This is a landmark achievement as it made India a member of the premium space club of the world.

3. While Kalam was the chief scientific advisor of India he took some significant steps which made India an influential country in the nuclear energy space. He gave India its first nuclear bomb by playing a pivotal organisational, technical and political role during Pokhran-II nuclear tests.

4. He founded the trust named PURA (Providing Urban Amenities to Rural Areas) so that rural areas can avail urban facilities. He gave all his life’s salaries and savings to it.

5. Late Former President of India’s contribution was not only in space and missile sector. He made significant contribution to healthcare sector too. Along with Dr. Soma Raju, he developed a low-cost coronary stent.

The duo also developed a rugged tablet PC in an effort to make better healthcare accessible to rural areas.

(Image credits: Indiatimes)