SERIN THANKAM SAM
From being the people’s President to spearheading the development of the most significant Indian missiles, late President Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam has contributed to the development of the country in different spheres.
As an aerospace scientist, Kalam worked with India’s two major space research organisations- Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
His work in the development and operationalisation of India’s indigenous missiles- Agni and Prithvi – earned him the title of the ‘Missile Man of India’. But there are many ways in which Kalam has helped India in the field of Science and Technology.
The former President had many roles but his favourite one was that of a teacher. His interest in students can be determined by the fact that he travelled the country and visited several schools to meet the students. Hence on Kalam’s birthday on October 15 is celebrated as World Students Day since 2010.
On his 89th birthday, here are five of his major scientific contributions to the country:
1.Frontrunner of the project to develop India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle( SLV)
Back in the 1980s, when India had hardly dreamt of having its indigenous satellite launch vehicle, Dr Kalam worked hard for 10 long years as the project director at ISRO, which led to some groundbreaking scientific development. In July 1980, India’s SLV-III successfully deployed the Rohini satellite in near-Earth orbit making the country a member of the exclusive Space Club.
2. The man behind the launch of ballistic missiles
Kalam also headed the projects Devil and Valiant which had the aim of developing ballistic missiles using the technology behind the SLV program. Under his leadership, the team developed AGNI , which is an intermediate- range ballistic missile and Prithvi which is a surface- to- surface missile.
3. Headed multiple nuclear tests at Pokhran
Kalam played a major role in heading the Pokhran-II nuclear testing leading to him being known as the best nuclear scientist of the country. He was serving as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
It was a defining moment in the country’s history and also proved the efficiency of Indian intelligence. India was able to deceive spy satellites of the United States and other countries while carrying out the test . The Pokhran site was under surveillance as Vajpayee had actually given the authorisation to undertake the test in 1996.
The 58 Engineers under the supervision of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and Dr. Rajagopal Chidambaram, the then Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, were specially chosen for the crucial task of maintaining the shafts in which India’s nuclear devices would be tested. They were told to take all measures to ensure total secrecy. So effective were the regiment’s tactics that when India carried out five nuclear tests in May 1998, it went down as one of the CIA’s biggest intelligence failures.
4. He worked in making healthcare accessible to all.
Working jointly with cardiologist Soma Raju, the late President developed a cost effective coronary stent ‘ Kalam- Raju Stent’ which helped in making healthcare accessible to all.
5. Develpoed the rugged ‘Kalam-Raju tablet’
The duo of Kalam and Soma Raju designed a tablet computer for better health care administration in rural areas of the country , calling it ‘Kalam- Raju tablet’.
For his efficient work in the stream of science and politics, the 11th President was also awarded India’s highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna. Kalam breathed his last on July 27, 2015, while doing what he loved, meeting students and interacting with them. He was delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong, when he collapsed and died from a cardiac arrest.
Even today, his contributions are still remembered as some of the best scientific and technological developments in the country.
