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Some lesser-known interesting facts about APJ Abdul Kalam are that his full name is Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam and he was the 11th president of independent India. Born into a poor family in Rameswaram, India, he understood the importance of education from a young age. Kalam sir played a crucial role in the development of missile and nuclear weapons technology in India. He insisted on education to the extent that even after becoming a president he did not give up nurturing new minds with his knowledge. Thus, every year India celebrates October 15 as World Students’ Day to celebrate his birth anniversary and contributions to the upliftment of India. Sounds interesting, right? In this blog, you will read some more interesting facts about APJ Abdul Kalam.
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Unknown Facts About APJ Abdul Kalam
1. APJ Abdul Kalam was born on October 15, 1931.
2. He was the youngest of the five siblings.
3. Kalam earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Madras Institute of Technology.
4. He joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in 1958.
5. Before becoming the Missile Man, he used to sell newspapers to earn money for his family.
6. The next important fact about APJ Abdul Kalam is that he wanted to get into the Indian Air Force (IAF). However, he obtained the 9th rank whereas the vacancies were only for eight candidates.
7. He is awarded India’s highest civilian honours twice- Padma Vibhshan (1990) and Bharat Ratana (1997).
8. He was the first President of India who was an unmarried individual.
9. This fact about APJ Abdul Kalam is one of the key reasons he was called a missile man. He developed the famous Prithvi and Agni missiles.
10. APJ Abdul Kalam was also a vegetarian.
Interesting Facts About APJ Abdul Kalam
1. He wrote his autobiography, ‘Wings of Fir,’ and other notable works like Ignited Minds, The Luminous Sparks, Guiding Souls,’ and many more books.
2. AJ Abdul Kalam was subjected to frisking by a developed nation. At JFK airport, APJ Abdul Kalam was asked to go through a double security check, not once but twice. After much effort by the International Affairs Ministry, the Obama administration acknowledged this issue and apologized for the same.
3. A newly discovered plant series in 2018 “Drypetes Kalamii” was named after the name of APJ Abdul Kalam.
4. Kalam was only once criticized by people when he decided to install the Koodankulam Nuclear power plant without letting the locals know about it.
5. An unknown fact about his presidency is that he became the President of India with the support of the Hindu ruling Party BJP and the opposition of Congress.
6. A well-known fact about APJ Abdul Kalam is that he practised Sunni Islam.
7. APJ Abdul Kalam passed away on July 27, 2015, while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong.
8. It is believed that Kalam passed away due to cardiac arrest.
9. In 2015, the name of Wheeler Island, a missile test site in Odisha, was changed to Abdul Kalam Island.
Life of APJ Abdul Kalam
Before hopping on to the life cycle, let’s look into his nickname. APJ Abdul Kalam was also known as the “Missile Man.” It was in 1998, when the nuclear weapons test solidified that India became a nuclear power, further saving this nickname to himself. Kalam died on July 27, 2015, while he was doing what he loved the most. He was at the Indian Institute of Management in Shillong.
| Year | What did he do? |
| 1958 | Completed Graduation in aeronautical engineering |
| 1960 | Joined Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) |
| 1969 | Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) |
| 1982 | DRDO |
| 1992 | Scientific Advisor to Defense Minister |
| 1999 | Principal Scitist to Indian Governemnt |
| 2002 | President of India |
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FAQs
APJ Abdul Kalam was famously renowned as the Missile Man of India and People’s President.
It is believed that APJ Abdul Kalam knew a total of 13 languages.
No, APJ Abdul Kalam didn’t get married. He dedicated his entire life to advocating for education and the upliftment of the country.
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