Tribute to ‘People’s President’ A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Former President Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, 83, suffered a fatal heart attack while lecturing students at IIM Shillong on July 27. The death of former President APJ Abdul Kalam was mourned by the entire nation, led by the prime minister and leaders of various political parties.

One of India’s most accomplished scientists, Kalam – widely known as India’s “Missile Man” — was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1981, Padma Vibhushan in 1990 and Bharat Ratna – the highest civilian honour in 1997.

The Bharat Ratna came just a year before Kalam played a key role in India’s nuclear test at Pokhran in Rajasthan in May 1998, soon after Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the prime minister.

Born on October 15, 1931 in the Hindu pilgrim town of Rameshwaram in coastal Tamil Nadu, Kalam went on to become one of the most celebrated aerospace and defence scientists in the country.

Kalam’s early years were, however, steeped in poverty when, as a mere eight-year-old, he hawked newspapers to supplement the income of a large family. His father, Jainulabudeen, was a boat owner and his mother,

Ashiamma, a housewife. Born in a poor family, he had to support the family by doing odd jobs right from a young age.

There were times when food was scarce in the family and his hard-pressed mother stretched every resource to the utmost to keep her five sons and daughters as well as her boat owner husband and his brother’s families fed, clothed and in good health.

By his own admission, Kalam would wake up much before dawn to distribute newspapers in the town after collecting newspaper bundles at the Rameshwaram railway station. The tough routine lasted a year.

His sister pawned jewellery with a moneylender so that the studious Kalam could have Rs.600 to join the Madras Institute of Technology. He passed out in 1957 with Aeronatuics as his specialisation.

Kalam contributed to the development of India’s first satellite launch vehicle and was the architect of the country’s guided missile development programme. He became the head of the Defence Research and Development Organisation in 1992. He became the principal scientific advisor to the Indian government in 1999 with the rank of a cabinet minister. He held the post till 2001. He was a distinguished scientist.

He was India’s President from 2002 to 2007. Kalam was a serious scholar and had degrees in physics and aerospace engineering. Called the Missile Man of India, when he served at the Indian Space Research Organistaion and the Defence Research and Development Organisation for close to 40 years.

Kalam also played a major role in India’s nuclear tests in 1998 at Pokharan, Rajasthan. Elected as the nation’s President in 2002, with the support of the then ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Congress, he served till 2007. After his tenure was over, he returned to his life of education, writing books and articles and delivering lectures.

Prof. Dr. C. J. G. Chandra

C. Jackson Gnana Chandra was born in 1929. After his schooling, he underwent his Intermediate in the University College, Trivandrum. He did his B. Sc with Physics Main from the Madras Christian College, Tambaram in 1949.

C. J. G. Chandra joined the Madras Institute of Technology for his D.M.l.T in Automobile Engineering in 1949 and he belongs to the First Batch (T. No. 19) He underwent practical Training for about two years with the Ford Motor Company of India, Bombay, Larsen & Toubro Ltd, Caterpillar Tractor Division and with Pashabhai Patel and Company Ltd, Allis-Chalmers Tractor Division, Bombay.

He served for about five years as Assistant Engineer (Mechanical) for Tractors Earth movers and construction equipment of Irrigation Dams under the P. W. D. Irrigation Branch, Madhya Pradesh.

During December 1959, he joined Madras Institute of Technology as Lecturer in Automobile Engineering, Assistant Professor and Professor till his retirement in May 1989. During his    tenure with the Institute/ Anna University, He did his M.E in Engineering Design from the College of Engineering Guindy. This was followed by his Ph.D from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, I.I.T Madras.

Prof Chandra has handled most of the subjects including Automobile Engine and Chasssis Designas well as the Design of Jigs Fixtures and Tools for the D. M. I. T / B. Tech and M.E programs. A few of his articles have been published in national and international journals. Besides, he was involved in counseling and guiding students in their project work. As Training and Placement Officer, Prof Chandra was able to help in the placement of several batches of final year students through Campus interviews.

Prof Chandra is a F.I. E, Institution of Engineers (India) and Member, SAEI .He has been associated with the M.l.T. Alumni Association since the formation of the Parent Chapter in 1966. After his retirement from M.l.T, he served with the Hindustan College of Engineering, Padur as the Principal and Professor of Mechanical Engineering.

He has always been happy to respond as and when his services were sought by MIT as External Examiner for M.E. Projects or as a Member of the Board of Studies or for any other assignment.

Regarding his family: His wife Gunaseely and he are residing in Chromepet since he joined M.l.T as a faculty member. His son, Bala Sam path, an Electronics Engineer is serving with Euro Mechanical, Dubai. His elder daughter, Sheila did her BE (EEE from CEG and has served for a short time as Planning Engineer, Otis Elevators. His younger daughter Shoba, did her M.C.A from Madras University and has served with C. T. S. for a few years. Prof Chandra’s children are happily married and well settled.

Brief Note on Wg.Cdr. P.S.Murthy – 9^th batch

Soon after completing Aeronautical Engineering graduation at MIT in the 9th batch, Wg Cdr PS Murthy was with the Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bangalore from June 1961 to May 1962 and worked in the team of Bharath Ratna Dr APJ Abdul Kalam who was senior to him in engineering by 4 years. The team handled defence research and prototype building projects. He strongly believed that work orientation, dedication, loyalty and work ethics of a person in his chosen career depends on the person with whom you have worked in the first job and in his case it is working under Dr APJ. This experience alone has successfully carried him a long way in the career and got him good recognition in all the orgaanizations he has served which is his very strong feeling. He did number of Audits successfully as a lead auditor for the aviation organizations. He holds aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s Licenses of DGCA India and FAA of USA.

He worked as a Chief Engineering Officer and as Flight Engineer in IAF spanning nearly 22 years. He was in the team for aircraft selection for VVIP and VIP squadron and after selection of the aircraft of Boeing Aircraft Co., has set up its maintenance facility in IAF.

During his tenure as Chief Engineering Officer of Jorhat Air Force Station there was an aircraft accident in Nov 1977 in which our late Prime Minister Morarji Desai was travelling. He immediately rushed to the crash site of the aircraft with few airmen in pouring rain through fields at night, and organized his rescue and sending him to the Military Hospital without loss of time. For this act of Gallantry shown in adverse conditions at the peril of his life and also the Professional Competence displayed to safety the aircraft from catching fire and helping other passengers to disembark speedily, he was awarded the Gallantry Award of “Vayu Sena Medal” by President of India in 1979.

He has specialised in Quality Assurance of aircraft, its system installed components and aero engines and in the career spanning more than 30 years in Civil Aviation. He worked as a Quality Assurance Engineer in Air India, and as a Regulatory approved General Manager Quality / Quality Control Mgr of NEPC Airlines, Blue Dart Aviation and Airworks India Engineering Pvt Ltd., MRO divisions at Hosur and Mumbai. His last assignment was working in Dubai as a local Regulatory authority approved Quality Control Manager in aircraft maintenance management and storage organizations for aircraft spares and assemblies which he is now continuing as a consultant. He has continuously did aviation training for number of Engineers, Technicians, stores personnel, and functioned as lead auditor to audit all the group organizations.

PERSONAL PROFILE OF Mr. V. SUBBARAO.

Born on 2nd. April 1929.

Science graduate from Andhra University.

First Batch Student of M I T Chromepet – 1949-1952. Left the institute in 1952.

Faculty – AUTOMOBILE.

Service:

37 years service in Power Generation, Petrolieum and Petro Chemical Industries in India and outside. Have had extensive experience in process plant operations

For 3 Yrs as Junior Engineer- mechanical in the state electricity Dept. of the combined state of Andhra & Madras in the Thermal Power Plant at Visakhapatnam.

For 10 Yrs with the Caltex Refinery at Visakhapatnam and for 1Yr on deputation as startup expert in the Caltex Refinery at ROTERDAM-NETHERLANDS. For 20 Yrs in Coromandel Fertilisers Visakhapatnam and retired in May 1987 as Manager Operations.

And after retirement worked In a Refinery in LIBIYA as Manager of power&utilities and desalination plants for 3 Yrs up to 1991.

Wife Mrs V. SYAMALA an educationalist , worked for 36 Yrs.in English Medium high schools and as Principal the last10 Yrs .

Children– Two daughters, settled in U S A. Eldest a Doctor and the second a software engineer.