Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], July 27 : Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday paid tribute to the former President APJ Abdul Kalam on his 10th death anniversary.
In a post on X, CM Dhami said that contributions by the Bharat Ratna awardee in the fields of science, education and nation-building were "unparalleled".
https://x.com/pushkardhami/status/1949273536398586042?s=48
"On the death anniversary of former President, great educationist, and Bharat Ratna awardee "Missile Man" Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam ji, countless tributes. Your contribution to the fields of science, education, and nation-building is unparalleled. You not only taught the youth to dream big but also showed them the direction to realize those dreams. Your life is an inspiration for all of us, which will always motivate us for national service," CM Dhami wrote on X.
Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (1931-2015), widely known as the "Missile Man of India," was an eminent scientist and the 11th President of India (2002-2007). Born on 15 October 1931 in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, into a humble family, Kalam rose through sheer hard work and determination.
Dr. Kalam made a significant contribution as Project Director to develop India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III), which successfully injected the Rohini satellite into near-earth orbit in July 1980 and made India an exclusive member of the Space Club. He was responsible for the evolution of ISRO's launch vehicle programme, particularly the PSLV configuration.
He was responsible for the development and operationalisation of AGNI and PRITHVI Missiles and for building indigenous capability in critical technologies through the networking of multiple institutions.
Beyond his scientific contributions, Dr. Kalam was deeply passionate about inspiring the youth of India. He authored several influential books such as "Wings of Fire," "Ignited Minds," and "India 2020," all centered around dreaming big and building a stronger nation.
Dr. Kalam passed away on 27 July 2015.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Minority Morcha is all set to launch a nationwide campaign "Kalam Ko Salaam" to pay tribute to the former President.
As part of the "Kalam Ko Salaam" campaign, the Minority Morcha will honour talented youth from minority communities with the "Dr. Kalam Startup Youth Award 2.0". This award will be given to young individuals who have started their own enterprises through innovation, exceptional skills, and entrepreneurial spirit, and who serve as inspiring examples for society. Preparations for the campaign are already underway.