In addition to being an innovative scientist and leader, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, popularly known as the “People’s President” and the “Missile Man of India,” was also a remarkable, kind and inspiring individual.
His encounters with individuals from all walks of life revealed his humility, compassion, and sincere concern for others. In this article, we’ll look at some real-life examples of how inspiring the man has always been:
1. When Kalam made certain that Indian Scientists received VIP treatment at the Paris Airport
After supervising the INSAT-4B communications satellite’s testing, four ISRO scientists were flying back from Kourou, French Guiana, when they arrived at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. They had no idea what was in store for them there. The airport security guards escorted them after examining their passports. When the officer informed the scientists that they had orders to do so, the scientists questioned whether there was an issue.
Then, a senior officer instructed them to enter the airline’s VIP lounge because their flight wasn’t due for another three hours. When the scientists revealed that they were travelling on economy tickets, the officer explained that president Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam had used their services earlier that day while boarding a flight from the same terminal and had notified them that scientists from ISRO would be using them because a satellite was being launched.
He also asked them to look after them. The scientists spent those three hours in the lounge amused before boarding their aeroplane to depart. Despite his hectic schedule, Dr. Kalam was aware that a launch was planned and that numerous scientists would be flying to and from India to ensure the mission’s success.
2. When one of his team members was unable to accompany his children to an exhibition due to the demands of his job, he stepped in!
One of the 70 scientists working on a busy project asked Dr. Kalam if he might leave at 5.30 p.m. that day because he had committed to taking his children to an exhibition. Dr. Kalam approved it for him. But after getting caught up in his job, the scientist realised it was already 8.30 p.m. He couldn’t find his boss when he went looking for him. He returned home feeling guilty for disappointing his kids only to discover they weren’t there. He inquired as to their whereabouts, and his wife responded, “You don’t know? At 5:15 p.m., your manager arrived and escorted the kids to the exhibition.”
When Dr. Kalam saw him working diligently at 5 o’clock, he got the impression that while he had promised his children that they would enjoy the exhibition, he would not leave work. He, the boss, then took the initiative and drove them there.
3. When he invited an Indian student to eat off his plate
In 2013, when he was introduced to several Indian students at the International Space Development Conference (ISDC) in San Diego, California, they walked up to his dining table to introduce themselves. The President invited a student to take food off his plate while he was still eating dinner. He pulled a leaf of spinach from his salad when he insisted, which caught him by surprise. He stated, “To this day I take it as a leaf of inspiration from him and the nicest dinner I could ever dream of.”
4. When he didn’t want glass pieces on the walls because they would hurt the birds
He asked the group, who was working on a construction project with DRDO, what they would do to ensure security around a specific structure. The team leader proposed “broken glass on the walls.” He quickly declined the offer. The birds can’t perch on the wall, he remarked. Think of an alternative. A politician who cared just as much about birds as people!
5. When a delighted child made a sketch of him and he replied with a thank you letter
After reading Kalam’s book, ‘Wings of Fire,’ a Class 6 student created his sketch. His family was incredibly happy when he presented it to them and urged him to mail it to the president. He did so despite his initial reluctance. But he had no idea what would happen next. He received a letter from the President himself a few days later!
6. When he granted an Internship at the Rasthrapati Bhawan to a backbencher
A group of IIM, Indore students were scheduled to present to Mr. Kalam. Everyone was trying their hardest because this was a great opportunity to impress the President, with the exception of this one set of so-called casual kids, the back benchers. Two days before the D day, they began working.
9 Turning Points of APJ Abdul Kalam’s Life that Changed the Scene for Him
The task of formatting the presentation was assigned to one of the students. While adding colour, formatting, and motion to the slides took him 1.5 days without sleep, the content just took a half-day. Dr. Kalam questioned who formatted the presentation when the group delivered it. He gave the man a golden business card with the words “ex-President India” printed on it and told him to come back in two days. When the man called, he was informed that he had been picked for an internship at his workplace and would be assisting him with various presentations for the UN.
7. When he welcomed a Cobbler as a Presidential visitor
Dr. Abdul Kalam attended a gathering at Kerala Raj Bhavan in Trivandrum shortly after being elected president. He had the authority to choose any two individuals to be the Presidential guests. I wonder who he phoned. a proprietor of a tiny hotel and a roadside cobbler. Dr. Kalam had worked as a scientist in Trivandrum for a considerable amount of time. He summoned the cobbler and the hotel proprietor, two people he had known well in Kerala. Can any other politician pull this off?
8. When he declined to sit in a chair reserved for him since it was larger than the other chairs
Dr. Kalam was invited to attend the IIT, Varanasi convocation ceremony as the chief guest. The middle chair on the stage was reserved for Kalam, and the other four were for the administrators of the university. Dr. Kalam kindly asked the vice-chancellor to sit in his place after noticing that his chair was larger than the rest. Another chair of the same size was made available for Dr. Kalam when the chancellor didn’t.
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