A.P.J. Abdul Kalam 🚀

He was a poor boy who sold newspapers to help his family — and he grew up to send rockets into space and become the President of India. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam loved science, loved children, and believed that every single kid can dream big.

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A hard-working boy

Kalam grew up in the seaside town of Rameswaram in a simple family. As a child he woke up early to deliver newspapers and earn a little money, then studied hard at school. He was an ordinary boy with one big thing inside him: a dream to fly and to learn.

The Missile Man of India

Kalam became an aerospace scientist. He led the team that built India's first big satellite launch rocket (SLV-III), which put a satellite into space in 1980. He also helped develop India's missiles, like Agni and Prithvi. For all this, people lovingly called him the "Missile Man of India."

The People's President

In 2002, Kalam became the President of India — the highest honour in the country. But he never acted grand. He was so kind and down-to-earth, and loved meeting ordinary people and children, that everyone called him the "People's President." He had already received India's top award, the Bharat Ratna, in 1997.

"Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action." — A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

A teacher till the very end

More than anything, Kalam loved teaching. He wrote books like Wings of Fire and travelled all over India telling students to dream big, work hard, and never give up. In fact, he passed away in 2015 doing exactly what he loved most — giving a lecture to students. His birthday, 15 October, is now celebrated as World Students' Day.

Why we remember him

Dr. Kalam showed that it doesn't matter how poor or ordinary you start — with curiosity, hard work, and big dreams, you can reach the stars and lift a whole nation with you. He is one of the most loved heroes of India.