Bhubaneswar, 15th October, 2025 : Every year on October 15, I pause to remember Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, not just as India’s former President or the “Missile Man,” but as the man who taught millions — including me — to dream.
Born in Rameswaram in 1931, Kalam’s journey from a small-town boy selling newspapers to the heart of India’s space and defence programmes is a story that continues to inspire generations. His simplicity, his smile, and his faith in young minds made him more than a scientist — he became the teacher of a nation.
Dr. Kalam’s vision went far beyond rockets and missiles. In his book India 2020, he imagined a developed and self-reliant India powered by innovation, education, and compassion. His speeches were filled with energy and optimism — every word urging us to rise above fear and mediocrity.
I still remember his timeless words:
“Dream is not that which you see while sleeping, it is something that does not let you sleep.”
Today, as schools and institutions across India celebrate World Students’ Day — declared by the United Nations in his honour — the message of Dr. Kalam feels more relevant than ever. He believed that real change begins in classrooms, in curious minds, and in the courage to ask “why not?”.
When Dr. Kalam passed away on July 27, 2015, while delivering a lecture at IIM Shillong, he left behind not silence, but a spark — a flame that still lights up countless young hearts determined to serve the nation.
For me, Dr. Kalam will always remain a symbol of hope — a reminder that with humility, hard work, and dreams that never die, even an ordinary person can leave behind an extraordinary legacy.
