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Kalam: The Synonyms of Simplicity-Part II

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Dr. Kalam’s belief in the power of science to resolve society’s problems and his views of these problems as a result of inefficient distribution of resources is modernistic. He also sees science and technology as ideology-free areas and emphasizes the cultivation of scientific temper and entrepreneurial drive. Dr. Kalam’s continues to take an active interest in other developments in the field of science and technology as well. He has proposed a research programme for developing bio-implants. He is a supporter of open source software over proprietary solutions and believes that the use of open source software on a large scale will bring more people the benefits of information technology. His views on certain issues have been espoused by him in his book India 2020 where he strongly advocates an action plan to develop India into a knowledge superpower and into a developed nation by the year 2020. He is credited with the view that India ought to take a more assertive stance in international relations; he regards his work on India’s nuclear weapons program as a way to assert the nation’s place as a future superpower.

Dr. Kalam succeeded K. R. Narayan to serve as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. It was a highly one-sided contest. With his appointment, Dr. Kalam became the first scientist and first ever bachelor to occupy the Rashtrapati Bhavan.  During his tenure as a President, Dr. Kalam was both appreciated and criticized. The latter was mostly due to his inaction in deciding the fate of 20 mercy petitioners because he didn’t believe in death penalties. In addition to all the profiles that Dr Kalam held, he authored numerous influential and inspirational books. Amongst all his books, “India 2020” was the widely read and appreciated one. It forecasts an action plan which advocated India turning into a knowledge superpower and as one of the developed nations of the world by the year 2020. His other books include, “Ignited Minds”, “Mission India”, “Inspiring Thoughts” and “The Luminous Sparks”.  In 2011, he launched his mission for the youth of the nation called the “What Can I Give Movement” with the main aim to defeat corruption in India. After completing his term as President, Dr Kalam served as visiting professor in various esteemed institutes and universities of India, such as Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and Indore. He also served as Chancellor of Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology Thiruvananthapuram, Aerospace Engineering at Anna University (Chennai), JSS University (Mysore).

Dr. Kalam was the proud recipient of Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna awards from the Government of India. He received the same in the years 1981, 1990 and 1997, respectively. He was the third President of India to have been honoured with a Bharat Ratna before being elected to the highest office, the other two being Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Dr. Zakir Hussain. In 1997, he was honoured by the Government of India with the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration. Later, the next year, he was awarded the Veer Savarkar Award by the Government of India. The Alwars Research Centre, Chennai, bestowed Kalam with Ramanujan Award in the year 2000. Dr. Kalam was honoured with the King Charles II Medal by the Royal Society, U.K in 2007. Dr. Kalam has been chosen to receive prestigious 2008 Hoover Medal for his outstanding public service. The citation said that he is being recognised for making state-of-the-art healthcare available to the common man at affordable prices, bringing quality medical care to rural areas by establishing a link between doctors and technocrats, using spin-offs of defence technology to create state-of-the-art medical equipment and launching tele-medicine projects connecting remote rural-based hospitals to the super-specialty hospital. A pre eminent scientist, a gifted engineer, and a true visionary, he is also a humble humanitarian in every sense of the word, it added. The California Institute of Technology, U.S.A, presented Dr. Kalam with the International von Karman Wings Award in the year 2009. The same year, he won the Hoover Medal by ASME Foundation, USA. The IEEE honoured Dr. Kalam with IEEE Honorary Membership in 2011. Dr. Kalam was the proud recipient of honorary doctorates from 40 universities. In addition to this, Kalam’s 79th birthday was recognized as World Students’ Day by United Nations. He was nominated for the MTV Youth Icon of the Year award in 2003 and in 2006. Switzerland in 2005, declared May 26 as Science Day to commemorate Dr. Kalam’s visit to the country.

Nation mourns the loss of a great human being. India lost her real Bharat Ratna and this is the greatest loss for the nation. RIP great soul.

Naiyar Imam

Part 1 : posttitle”>Kalam: The Synonyms of Simplicity-Part I

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