New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tribute to former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on his 92nd birth anniversary.
The Prime Minister praised Kalam’s extraordinary scientific talent and how people loved him for his humble behavior.
PM Modi said, “Heartfelt tribute to former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, beloved by the people for his humble behavior and extraordinary scientific talent, on his birth anniversary. His incomparable contribution to nation-building will always be remembered with reverence.”
As an aerospace scientist, Kalam worked with India’s two premier space research organizations – the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
He directed the project to develop India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV). In the 1980s, when India had not even dreamed of its own indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV), Dr. Kalam’s hard work of more than 10 years as Project Director for the development of indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle at ISRO Was lowered to the ground. -Disrupting scientific development.
Kalam also led the Devil and Valiant projects, which aimed to develop ballistic missiles using the technology behind the successful SLV programme. Under Mission Kalam and other projects, the members developed several missiles including Agni, an intermediate range ballistic missile, and Prithvi, a surface-to-surface missile.
Serving as the Chief Scientific Advisor to the then Prime Minister, Kalam played a major role in leading the Pokhran-II nuclear test, which led him to be known as the country’s best nuclear scientist at that time. Nuclear tests under Kalam’s supervision during the period July 1992 to December 1999 made India a nuclear-armed nation.
Kalam breathed his last while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong on July 27, 2015, when he collapsed and died of cardiac arrest.
His contributions are still remembered as some of the best scientific and technological developments in the country.