CM Revanth Reddy pays tribute to APJ Abdul Kalam on birth anniversary
Synopsis
On APJ Abdul Kalam's birth anniversary, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy paid tribute to the Missile Man of India, calling him an ideal that never fades across generations. Kalam, born 15 October 1931, was India's 11th President and Bharat Ratna awardee.
Key Takeaways
Revanth Reddy posted a tribute to Dr.
Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary, 15 October 2026 .
Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu and passed away in 2015 .
He served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007 and was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1997 .
Kalam was the chief architect of India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) , earning the title 'Missile Man of India'.
Leaders across all political parties routinely pay tribute to Kalam on 15 October , reflecting his status as a non-partisan national icon.
A scientist who dreamed of a billion futures. On the birth anniversary of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy posted a heartfelt tribute on Thursday, 15 October 2026, honouring the man who gave India its missiles and its imagination.
In the post, written in Telugu, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy called Kalam 'tarataralaku tarağani ādarśam' — an ideal that never diminishes across generations — before invoking his most iconic titles: 'Missile Man of India', former President, and Bharat Ratna. The tribute closed with a salutation on the occasion of Kalam's birth anniversary, tagged simply #AbdulKalam.
From Rameswaram to Rashtrapati Bhavan
Born on 15 October 1931 in the small coastal town of Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam rose from modest beginnings to become the architect of India's missile programme. As chief scientist at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and later at ISRO, he was the driving force behind the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) — the project that gave the nation Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Trishul, and Nag.
The nation honoured him with the Bharat Ratna in 1997. Five years later, he stepped into the nation's highest constitutional office, serving as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. He remained, until his passing in 2015, the country's most beloved teacher-president — always more at home in a school auditorium than at a state banquet.
Why political India speaks with one voice on 15 October
Kalam is one of the rare figures in Indian public life who commands tribute across every political line. Every 15 October, leaders from the ruling party to the opposition queue to honour him — not as a ritual, but because his story genuinely cuts through. He embodied upward mobility, scientific temper, and a quiet, non-partisan patriotism that political India finds almost impossible to argue with.
For a Chief Minister like Revanth Reddy — himself the face of a government that has leaned heavily on youth outreach and student welfare — invoking Kalam is also a statement of values. The scientist who told students to dream, to dare, and to serve remains the most powerful shorthand for aspiration in Indian public discourse.
Kalam's legacy lives not in any single policy but in a generation of engineers, scientists, and civil servants who grew up reading Wings of Fire. That generation, now in its thirties and forties, is the very constituency every Indian politician is trying to reach.
Point of View
A Chief Minister who has positioned the Congress government in Telangana around youth employment and education, the tribute aligns personal brand with national sentiment. The annual 15 October moment is one of the few days in Indian politics where the competitive tributes actually reinforce a shared civic value: the idea that science, humility, and public service can coexist in one life. That this message resonates as powerfully in 2026 as it did a decade ago says something important about the continuing hunger in Indian public life for leaders of Kalam's particular moral stature.
NationPress
15 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is APJ Abdul Kalam's birth anniversary?
APJ Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 , and his birth anniversary is observed every year on that date with tributes across India.
Why is APJ Abdul Kalam called the Missile Man of India?
Kalam earned the title 'Missile Man of India' for leading the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) at DRDO, which developed missiles including Agni and Prithvi.
When did APJ Abdul Kalam serve as President of India?
Dr. Kalam served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007 , widely regarded as one of the most beloved occupants of the office.
What is Bharat Ratna and when did Kalam receive it?
Bharat Ratna is India's highest civilian honour. APJ Abdul Kalam was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1997 for his contributions to science and national development.
What did Telangana CM Revanth Reddy say about Abdul Kalam?
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy called Kalam 'an ideal that never diminishes across generations' and paid tribute on his birth anniversary on 15 October 2026 .
