APJ Abdul Kalam Birth Anniversary: Top 5 Quotes By The ‘Missile Man Of India’

India on Tuesday paid tributes to APJ Abdul Kalam, fondly remembered as the ‘Missile Man of India’ on his 88th birth anniversary. Born on October 15, 1931, Dr Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam served as the India’s 11th president between 2002 and 2007. Kalam had inspired crores of people through his ‘simple living and high thinking’ philosophy. Kalam died due to a heart attack while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Shillong on July 27, 2015.

APJ Abdul Kalam was the backbone behind the 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests and was also a crucial figure in India’s space and missile development program. In 1997, he was honoured with India’s highest civilian honour, ‘Bharat Ratna’ in 1997.

He served his full term as the president of India and after that he did what he loved the most – teaching. During his tenure as president he came to be known as the 'People’s President'. He set a target of addressing 5,00,000 students during his five-year term. After leaving office, he kept inspiring students with his speeches. He kept in touch with young people all over the country, getting hundreds of emails a day from young people. He was known to reply to most of these.

APJ Abdul Kalam Birth Anniversary: Top 5 Quotes By The ‘Missile Man Of India’

• If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.
• If four things are followed - having a great aim, acquiring knowledge, hard work, and perseverance - then anything can be achieved.
• Teaching is a very noble profession that shapes the character, calibre, and future of an individual. If the people remember me as a good teacher, that will be the biggest honour for me.
• Never stop fighting until you arrive at your destined place - that is, the unique you. Have an aim in life, continuously acquire knowledge, work hard, and have perseverance to realise the great life.
• Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work.