Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam is widely known as the Missile Man of India. A huge contributor to not only science but to mankind itself, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam is an idol for many youths. He was the President of India and was widely regarded as the ‘People’s President’. 

October 15 is the birth anniversary of Dr Kalam and in his honour, the day is celebrated as World Students Day.

An avid speaker, he often spoke and spent time with the country’s youth and children- inspiring them to aim for higher grounds.

Also Read: PM Narendra Modi, Union Ministers, pay tributes to APJ Abdul Kalam in 91st birth anniversary

Throughout the years, he has also penned a number of books and given inspiring and valuable quotes to the public. Here are some of his most memorable quotes:

  1. “Don’t take rest after your first victory because if you fail in second, more lips are waiting to say that your first victory was just luck.”- Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
  1. “To succeed in your mission, you must have single-minded devotion to your goal.”-Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
  1. “If you fail, never give up because FAIL means “First Attempt In Learning”. – Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at numerous pep talks to university and school students.
  1. “To live only for some unknown future is superficial. It is like climbing a mountain to reach the peak without experiencing its sides. The sides of the mountain sustain life, not the peak. This is where things grow, experience is gained and technologies are mastered. The importance of the peak lies only in the fact that it defines the sides.”― Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Wings of Fire: An Autobiography
  1. “My message, especially to young people is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, courage to discover the impossible and to conquer the problems and succeed. These are great qualities that they must work towards. This is my message to the young people.” -Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam in his conference to the country’s youth.

Also Read: Five books by APJ Abdul Kalam that every Indian must read

One of the brightest minds of India, Kalam was an aerospace scientist who worked with India’s two major space research organisations, Defence Research  and Development Organisation(DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO).