The last Class – a tribute to India’s Missile Man

Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, more popular as Dr. APJ Abdul kalam, a true patriot, nationalist and an ocean of knowledge is a loss India will mourn for life. Having very humble beginnings as a newsboy, Dr. Kalam went on to become one of the pioneers of science and technology laying the cornerstone for modern India. It was under his visionary leadership that India conducted its first Nuclear test in Pokhran, making India the first nation in the subcontinent to have Nuclear weapons in arsenal.

Popularly named “Missile Man”, Dr. Kalam’s contribution in developing indigenous Missile technology is unmatched. The SLV-III and PSLV, India’s pride and world’s awe, also the launch pad for MOM (Magalyaan) as also several others are brain child of Dr. Kalam. Failing to cut into as an Air Force Fighter pilot, Dr. Kalam first joined in as a scientist with the DRDO where he created a small helicopter for the armed forces. But, unsatisfied with his job, he switched to DRDO where he created the foundation of military strength of today’s India.

Under his directorship, India achieved some great feats including India’s first indigenous satellite, as also Pokhran-I and Pokhran-II that marked India in the technology map of world.

Dr. Kalam also the 11^th President of India is probably the only befitting his tag of “People’s President”. From opening the Raisina Hills to common man to freelance visit for students, Dr. Kalam made Rastrapati Bhavan accessible to one and all. As a President, Dr. Kalam rose above all affiliations, to ensure doing all he could as India’s first citizen. As President, he was no easy-pass, he would weigh pro’s and con’s with the acumen of a true nationalist and has returned a record number of resolutions for re-consideration.

Sans his term as President, Dr. Kalam dedicated himself as an open book for the youth of the nation and had always been on the move, imparting and deciphering the vast ocean of knowledge he possessed. Even in his last days, he was a visiting faculty of IIMs Shillong, Ahmedabad and Indore, besides being the Chancellor of IIST Thiruvanantapuram, as also several other institutions.

Dr. Kalam was a man deeply rooted to his bases as an idealist Indian citizen, but at the same time he was extremely far sighted of the future as imminent from his authored books “INDIA 2020”, “Wings of Fire”, etc.

For a man who believed in investing all his wisdom in the nation’s youth, it’s only just that his last moments were at an address to the future of the nation at IIM Shillong. Dr. Kalam’s loss has left a profound void in the heart of every Indian and will be mourned for ever.