'I tried to think of a hero, who can inspire. I felt the most inspiring living hero for our children is Dr Kalam. He was a true leader, a true hero.' Nila Madhab Panda tells us why he made I Am Kalam.
On Friday, April 4, 2025, DRDO and the Indian Army conducted four successful flight-tests of the army version of the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile at the Dr A P J Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha.
India has successfully test-fired a long range hypersonic missile from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday.
Addressing the fourth APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial Lecture at the Rashtrapati Bhavan auditorium in New Delhi, Kovind said that "every Indian is proud of that great son of the country."
"On behalf of the American people, I wish to extend my deepest condolences to the people of India on the passing of former Indian President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam," Obama said in a statement.
The President, who is on a five-day visit to France and Greece, had earlier met the students of the International Space University in Strasbourg and also visited the European Parliament.
On July 25, Pranab Mukherjee will leave Rashtrapati Bhavan and move into 10 Rajaji Marg in Lutyens' Delhi.
'I still remember back in 1971, the night they both got the news that Dr Vikram Sarabhai had died at his hotel in Kovalam, and rushing off with tears in their eyes.'
As an aerospace scientist, Kalam worked with India's two major space research organisations --DRDO and ISRO.
As the news of Kalam broke, condolences and tributes poured in from all corners of the country, reflecting the huge popularity he enjoyed both in and out of the highest office of the country that earned him the sobriquet of the "people's President."
Late former President A P J Abdul Kalam may not have left behind any will and had asked his elder brother to take care of a small piece of property he owned.
The President met the local tribal people and interacted with them.
Dr Kalam is on a five-day visit to France and Greece.
In its apology to Kalam for frisking him at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in a breach of protocol, it said it did not intend to offend the former President or the sentiments of the people of the country.
Following the former President's demise last month, there had been a demand from many sections of the society for dedicating a road after him as a token of love and tribute to the "missile man".
The memorial has been built at a cost of Rs 15 crore on land alloted by the Tamil Nadu government at Kalam's village Peikarambu.
Do you think President Kalam should get a second stint?
In recognition of his vision, dedication and leadership in the study and advancement of science and engineering, an honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering was conferred on former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam by the University of Waterloo at a special convocation recently.
Rediff readers wrote emotionally about the passing of Dr Abdul Kalam while others sent in pictures of chance meetings with this humble physicist who was always available with an easy smile and some gentle words.
The idol was dressed in a grey suit, which Dr Kalam wore during his recent trip to Guwahati.
Reacting to former President APJ Abdul Kalam's statement that he has not received any communication from Continental Airlines, the United States-based airline on Thursday said that they want to apologise personally to him."Since he is not in Delhi, we are waiting for him to return so that we can apologise personally to Dr Kalam," the airline said.The development came shortly after Dr Kalam said that he is yet to receive an apology from the airlines, for frisking him.
Kalam was staying at the 10 Rajaji Marg residence after his eventful term as President ended in 2007.
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind chief Maulana Arshad Madani's remarks alleging discrimination against Muslims, citing the Al Falah University case, have sparked a row with the BJP, who accused him of supporting terrorists.
The meeting between Dr Singh and Kalam came ahead of the Congress Working Committee session, which discussed the situation in UP.
As protests rage in Kudankulam and reach a crescendo, V Ponraj, scientific advisor to Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, speaks about the report he and the former Indian President prepared in this interview with rediff.com's Shobha Warrier.
'Our problem is not a budget deficit but a trust deficit. We need to trust our institutions and industries to innovate and lead. That is the way forward for India.'
'We were in a heavily nuclearised environment. China had tested for Pakistan in the 1980s and helped their missile programme stay just one step behind us.'
Here are photos from his life and career as India's pre-eminent defence scientist and one of the country's most popular president
Solutions to seven major problems -- relating to solar power, nuclear power, healthcare, HIV/AIDS, stem cell research, forecasting of earthquake and precision forecasting of rain content for particular cloud condition -- were challenging areas for the young researchers, Kalam said.
The body of the 'people's President' was brought down to Rameswaram from New Delhi in the afternoon.
Issuing a statement after disembarking from the submarine, Kalam said he was convinced that the submarines force could shoulder ''much higher technical and professional challenges''.
Dr P K Menon, Chief Scientist and CEO, Optimal Synthesis Inc, who worked with Dr A P J Abdul Kalam early on in his career, recalls what it was like working for his first boss.
Former president Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, visiting Washington, DC, did what he does best and likes the most in recent years -- talking to and engaging with students. But, Kalam was also not averse to conveying the message to the powers that be in the US that their reluctance to utilize the core competence of India in science and technology was to their detriment and cited the example of the joint ventures between Indian and Russian scientists.
Dr Kalam continues to live in the imagination of the people of this nation and remains a role model for the youth and missile and space scientists who are diligently following his vision to achieve new laurels for India, notes S M Khan, who served as President Kalam's press secretary.
The President felt many students find a disconnect between what they learn at school and what they do in a job.
Former Indian president Dr A P J Abdul Kalam will be the keynote speaker at this year's All India Movement for Seva's fundraiser on September 26.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed concerns about discriminatory fund allocation and reports of a rift with Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, dismissing both as unfounded.
DRDO has goals to develop stealth aircrafts and long range reusable hypersonic cruise missiles.
