Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Monday, 27 July 2026 paid homage to former President and scientist Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on his death anniversary, honouring him as the 'Missile Man of India' and a Bharat Ratna laureate whose legacy continues to inspire millions of young Indians.

Posting on X in Hindi, Singh wrote: 'देश के पूर्व राष्ट्रपति, 'मिसाइल मैन' एवं 'भारत रत्न' डॉ. ए.पी.जे. अब्दुल कलाम जी की पुण्यतिथि पर उन्हें शत-शत नमन।' ['On the death anniversary of former President, 'Missile Man' and Bharat Ratna Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, I bow to him a hundredfold.'] He added that Kalam's unparalleled contribution to India's space research and defence sectors, along with his simple way of life, 'will always inspire crores of youth of the country.'

Context

Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam passed away on 27 July 2015 while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong. He was 83 years old. Every year on this date, leaders across the political spectrum pay public tribute to his memory, reflecting the broad national reverence he commands.

Kalam served as India's 11th President from 2002 to 2007 and was awarded the Bharat Ratna — India's highest civilian honour — in 1997. He remains one of the few Presidents to have been popularly called the 'People's President', a title rooted in his accessibility and his consistent engagement with students and young scientists.

Policy Backdrop

Kalam's scientific career spanned both ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation). At ISRO, he played a leading role in developing the SLV-3, India's first indigenously built satellite launch vehicle. At DRDO, he directed the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, launched in 1983, which produced the Agni, Prithvi, and Akash missile systems that form the backbone of India's strategic deterrent.

In 1992, Kalam was appointed Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, and from 1999 he served as Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. Successive governments have invoked his emphasis on technology-driven self-reliance when framing policies for defence indigenisation and the expansion of India's commercial space sector.

Stakeholders and Impact

Kalam's enduring public image as a scientist-statesman from a modest background in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, makes him a reference point in national conversations about science education, defence research, and youth empowerment. His books, particularly Wings of Fire, remain widely read in schools and colleges across India.

For India's defence and space scientific community, annual tributes from senior ministers serve as a public reaffirmation of institutional support for the programmes Kalam helped build. The tributes also carry symbolic weight for the DRDO and ISRO workforces, whose work traces a direct lineage to his foundational contributions.

What's Next

Commemorations on Kalam's death anniversary often prompt renewed discussion in parliamentary sessions and at national science forums about schemes honouring his legacy — including science education initiatives and defence R&D outreach programmes. As India continues to expand its space and missile programmes, policymakers are likely to continue invoking Kalam's vision of technological self-reliance as a guiding framework.