Did You Know the Missile Man Was an Aerospace Engineer First?
Every parent wants their child to become an engineer, but do you know about aerospace engineering—the dream of flight that made Kalam the Missile Man?
Ten years ago, it was not simply a man that we lost. We lost a dreamer, a doer, a beloved teacher, and a national treasure.
On July 27, 2015, the scientific soul of India fell silent. This year marks the 9th death anniversary of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, affectionately known as the “Missile Man of India.” But for most of us, he was much more. He was a mentor, one that reinforced the belief that dreams - no matter how big they are meant to be chased.
It was not just a goodbye to a former President of India. It was a goodbye to a man who walked into classrooms more than boardrooms; a man who believed every child - regardless of where they came from - should have the opportunity to touch the sky, and now the sky that he once reached for, holds him. The star became a star.
“Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action.” - Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
His birth was not a birth of privilege or wealth, but a birth of purpose. His purpose began with what few people in this world associate with dreams - Aerospace Engineering.
The Aerospace Engineer Who Reached the Nation’s Heart
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's biography is more than just the story of a life. It is a story of dreams.
Born in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, into a humble family, Kalam grew up with limited means but limitless curiosity. As a young boy, he sold newspapers to support his family. But his mind soared high - fascinated by flight, the stars, and science.
He pursued his passion at the Madras Institute of Technology, where he studied aerospace engineering. Though he narrowly missed his dream of becoming a fighter pilot, life had something bigger in store. He went on to join ISRO, where he was the Project Director of SLV-III, India’s first indigenous satellite launch vehicle, which successfully placed the Rohini satellite into orbit in 1980.
Later, at DRDO, he led the development of Agni and Prithvi missiles and played a key role in Pokhran-II, India’s nuclear test in 1998. These achievements earned him the title “Missile Man of India.”
But what made him special wasn’t the rockets he built, but the lives he influenced. Kalam was an educator at heart. He spent his last few years interacting with and teaching students, as he deeply believed that our youth are the future of the country. x