People's President and Prof at 3 IIMs Dr APJ Abdul Kalam leaves for heavenly abode; biggest love becomes fatal

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MBAUniverse.com News Desk |
July 28, 2015
Sudden demise of Dr Kalam is a great loss for the country and for MBA students at IIM Ahmedabad, Indore and Shillong where he was the visiting Professor
I feel comfortable in the company of young people, particularly high school students Dr APJ Abdul Kalam former President of India

Bharat Ratna Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India and popularly known as Missile Man and People’s President passed away on July 27, 2015 after getting a severe cardiac arrest while in interaction with the students at Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong. He was 83 years old and was to celebrate the next Birthday on October 15, 2015. Post Presidency he served as visiting professor at 3 IIMs. Sudden demise of Dr Kalam is a great loss for the country and for MBA students at IIM Ahmedabad, Indore and Shillong where he was the visiting Professor. Students of  these institutes frequently got the opportunity of learning great lessons from the learned former President of India.

The biggest love of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was to interact with young generation. The fatal cardiac arrest came to him while doing the same at IIM Shillong. He was interacting with students and delivering a lecture  on ‘Livable Planet’ when he collapsed around 6.30 PM. Immediate medical aid at Benthany Hospital was of no help and he was declared dead after an hour of treatment at the hospital.

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (APJ Abdul Kalam) was born on 15 October 1931 in Rameswaram in the state of Tamil Nadu.  A career scientist turned reluctant politician, Kalam studied physics and aerospace engineering. He remained and served the nation as a scientist for almost 40 years mainly at the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Dr Kalam came to be known as the ‘Missile Man of India’ for his work on the development and successful testing of Ballistic missiles. He remained actively involved in India’s space programme.

He started his career by designing a small helicopter for Indian Army. He was also part of the INCOSPAR Committee working under the great space scientist Vikram Sarabhai. In 1969 he joined ISRO as Project Director of  India's first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) that deployed Rohini satellite successfully in near earth orbit. His research and educational leadership brought him great laurels and prestige. Advanced missile programme was launched under his directorship. He was appointed chief executive of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).  Dr Kalam played a major part in developing many missiles under this mission including Agni and Prithvi.

Kalam also served as the Chief Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister and Secretary of the DRDO from July 1992 to December 1999.

A scientist reluctantly turned politician, Dr Kalam was elected the 11th President of India in 2002 with the support of both the ruling and the opposition political parties. He succeeded K R Narayanan.

After serving a term of 5 years in Rashtrapati Bhavan and making the palatial building accessible to common Indian, Dr Kalam returned to his civilian life of education, writing and public service. After leaving office, Kalam became a visiting professor at 3 IIMs namely IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Indore and IIM Shillong. He also remained an honorary fellow of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and was the Chancellor of Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram as well as the Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Anna University. Dr Kalam launched a programme for the youth of India to defeat corruption with the name ‘What Can I Give Movement’

Regarding his consistent work on development of weapons he visualized India to become a superpower and in his book India 2020, Kalam advocated the concrete plan to develop India into a "knowledge superpower" by the year 2020. Dr Kalam received several prestigious awards, including India's highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna.

Throughout his life he loved being with students. He said "I feel comfortable in the company of young people, particularly high school students. Henceforth, I intend to share with them experiences, helping them to ignite their imagination and preparing them to work for a developed India for which the road map is already available.”

The news of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s sudden demise has been received with grief throughout the country and in the management education where his interaction always led to great learning. Government of India has declared a seven-day state mourning as a mark of respect to the former President

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