Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Pays Tribute to APJ Abdul Kalam
Synopsis
The Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on October 15 paid its respects to Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam — aerospace scientist, 'Missile Man of India,' and 11th President — on his birth anniversary, joining a nationwide annual tradition of honouring his scientific and presidential legacy.
Key Takeaways
The Chief Minister's Office of Punjab posted a formal tribute to Dr.
Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary, October 15 .
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led the remembrance on behalf of the Punjab Government .
Kalam, born October 15, 1931 , is celebrated as the 'Missile Man of India' for his role in the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme .
He served as India's 11th President from 2002 to 2007 and passed away on July 27, 2015 .
October 15 is observed as 'World Students' Day' in his honour across India.
On the birth anniversary of one of India's most beloved scientist-statesmen, the Punjab Government paused to honour the man who helped give the nation its wings — and its missiles.
The Chief Minister's Office of Punjab on Thursday, October 15, posted a formal remembrance for Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, describing him as the 'Missile Man of India' and former President, as the country marks his birth anniversary. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led the tribute on behalf of the state government.
The legacy Punjab is saluting today
Born on October 15, 1931, in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, Dr. Kalam rose from modest beginnings to become the chief architect of India's ballistic missile programme — earning the 'Missile Man' title for his pivotal role in developing the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), which produced the Agni and Prithvi missile series. His contributions to India's 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests further cemented his place in the country's defence and scientific history. He served as India's 11th President from 2002 to 2007, becoming perhaps the most universally admired occupant of Rashtrapati Bhavan in modern memory — celebrated not for political lineage but for scientific achievement and an extraordinary connection with India's youth. He passed away on July 27, 2015, while delivering a lecture at IIM Shillong.A nationwide pattern of annual remembrance
Punjab's tribute is part of a broad, annual ritual across Indian state governments and institutions — schools, universities, and science bodies mark October 15 as 'World Students' Day' in Kalam's honour, a designation that reflects the central place he held in the imagination of young Indians. For the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government, which has consistently framed education and scientific temper as policy priorities, aligning with the Kalam legacy carries a pointed resonance. Kalam's life — a scientist who became a president, a president who talked like a teacher — remains one of the most referenced narratives in Indian public life, invoked across party lines and state boundaries every October without fail. Decades after his greatest achievements, Dr. Kalam's story still lands with full force — proof that the most durable tributes are paid not in ceremony, but in the ambitions they quietly reignite.Point of View
But they also function as soft political signalling — the AAP-led Punjab government's emphasis on the scientist-president reinforces its self-styled identity as a party of education, aspiration, and meritocracy. Kalam occupies rare ideological neutral ground in Indian politics, making such tributes safe and universally resonant across the electorate. The consistent national pattern of October 15 commemorations also reflects how deeply the Indian state has institutionalised scientific role-models as civic touchstones. What distinguishes some tributes from others is whether they are followed by substantive investments in science education — that is the standard Kalam himself would have applied.
NationPress
15 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is October 15 celebrated as World Students' Day?
October 15 is observed as World Students' Day in honour of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam , who was born on this date in 1931 . The United Nations designated the day in recognition of his lifelong dedication to inspiring students and youth.
Why is APJ Abdul Kalam called the Missile Man of India?
Dr. Kalam earned the title 'Missile Man of India' for his central role in developing the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) , which produced India's Agni and Prithvi ballistic missiles. He led this programme at DRDO during the 1980s and 1990s.
When did Bhagwant Mann become Chief Minister of Punjab?
Bhagwant Mann became Chief Minister of Punjab in 2022 , leading the Aam Aadmi Party to a landslide victory in the state assembly elections.
Which president number was APJ Abdul Kalam?
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam served as India's 11th President , from 2002 to 2007 .
How did APJ Abdul Kalam die?
Dr. Kalam passed away on July 27, 2015 , after collapsing while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong . He was 83 years old .
