 "History Today: When we lost APJ Abdul Kalam, the 'Missile Man of India'")
As part of Firstpost’s History Today series, July 27 has witnessed pivotal moments — from the passing of India’s beloved “Missile Man” APJ Abdul Kalam in 2015, to acts of terror and peacemaking on the world stage, and deep racial conflict in America.
APJ Abdul Kalam passes away
On July 27, 2015, India lost one of its most beloved and respected figures — Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India and a pioneering aerospace scientist.
Kalam collapsed while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong. He was 83.
His sudden demise marked the end of an era that transcended science, education, public service and spiritual thought.
Born on October 15, 1931, in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, Kalam came from modest beginnings.
His father was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque, and young Kalam helped supplement the family income by selling newspapers.
Despite financial constraints, he showed an early curiosity for learning and was especially drawn to mathematics and physics.
After completing his schooling in Ramanathapuram, Kalam went on to study physics at St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli, and then aerospace engineering at the Madras Institute of Technology.
He narrowly missed becoming a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force — he was ranked 9th while only 8 slots were available — but fate had bigger plans for him.
Kalam joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in 1958 and then the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) in 1969.
At ISRO, he was project director of India’s first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III), which successfully deployed the Rohini satellite in 1980 — a defining moment in India’s space history.
His contributions became even more prominent when he rejoined DRDO and spearheaded India’s missile development programme under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
This earned him the moniker “Missile Man of India.”
Notable missiles like Agni and Prithvi were developed under his leadership.
Kalam played a pivotal role in India’s 1998 nuclear tests at Pokhran-II. As the chief scientific adviser to the Prime Minister and the head of the DRDO at the time, he was instrumental in the coordination and execution of the tests.
The successful detonation marked India as a nuclear weapons state and significantly altered its global strategic posture.
The Pokhran-II tests also cemented Kalam’s status as a national hero.
His ability to bridge scientific innovation with national policy was rare and essential at a time when India sought to assert itself globally.
In 2002, Abdul Kalam was elected the 11th President of India with support across party lines. He was the first scientist and the first bachelor to occupy Rashtrapati Bhavan.
During his tenure, Kalam brought a refreshing change to the ceremonial office, converting it into an active platform for outreach and youth engagement.
He earned the sobriquet “People’s President” due to his simplicity, accessibility and dedication to citizens — especially students. Kalam made it a priority to meet with young people, listen to their aspirations, and encourage innovation and education.
After his presidency, Kalam did not retire from public life. He became a visiting professor at multiple institutions including IIM Shillong, IIM Ahmedabad, and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore.
He also authored several influential books such as Wings of Fire, India 2020, Ignited Minds, and My Journey — many of which became bestsellers and were translated into numerous languages.
Kalam was a strong advocate for India’s development through knowledge, science, and technological self-reliance.
His vision of India as a developed nation by 2020, although not fully realised, continues to inspire developmental discourse.
On July 27, 2015, while delivering a lecture titled “Creating a Liveable Planet Earth” at IIM Shillong, Kalam collapsed at around 6:30 pm.
He was rushed to Bethany Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from a sudden cardiac arrest.
News of his death triggered an outpouring of grief across India and abroad. The Government of India declared a seven-day state mourning.
His body was flown to his hometown of Rameswaram, where he was laid to rest with full state honours. Over 350,000 people attended his funeral, including political leaders, scientists and common citizens.
Kalam’s impact on India — and indeed, the world — transcended his technical achievements. He symbolised the power of education, the importance of hard work, and the potential of a visionary mind.
Among his numerous accolades are the Bharat Ratna (India’s highest civilian honour), the Padma Bhushan, and the Padma Vibhushan.
He received honorary doctorates from more than 40 universities worldwide.
His birthday, October 15, is now observed as World Students’ Day in many institutions, and India’s DRDO has named its missile complex in Hyderabad the “Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex.”
His house in Rameswaram was converted into the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam National Memorial by the Defence Research and Development Organisation and inaugurated in 2017.
Globally, he was remembered as a symbol of peace and development.
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called him a “great statesman and visionary,” while Nasa scientists lauded his commitment to science diplomacy.
His quotes like — “Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action” — are widely circulated in classrooms and textbooks.
In an age of growing cynicism and division, Kalam remains a rare unifying figure. He was admired across the ideological spectrum — by conservatives, liberals, nationalists, and progressives alike.
Kalam once said, “If you want to shine like a sun, first burn like a sun.”
Olympic terror: Centennial Park bombing
On July 27, 1996, a pipe bomb exploded at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta during a free concert, killing 44-year-old Alice Hawthorne, causing the death of Turkish cameraman Melih Uzunyol (via heart attack), and injuring 111 others.
The bomber — Eric Robert Rudolph, a white supremacist extremist — later admitted responsibility, linking the act to opposition against abortion and globalism.
He was captured in 2003 and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2005.
Security guard Richard Jewell was initially hailed a hero, then wrongfully accused — a saga prompting FBI reforms and legal action by Jewell.
The event shifted Olympic security, highlighting vulnerabilities in mass gatherings and civilian safety protocols.
Armistice ends Korean War
After nearly three years of intense conflict beginning June 25, 1950, the Korean War armistice was signed at Panmunjom on July 27, 1953.
US, North Korean, and Chinese forces convened, reaching a ceasefire effective at 10:00 am (signing) and formal cessation by 10:00 pm that night.
The accord established the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) near the 38th parallel and highlighted prisoner repatriation via a Neutral Nations Commission.
Although the armistice halted active conflict, no formal peace treaty was signed — leaving North and South Korea technically at war.
The DMZ has remained one of the world’s most fortified and enduring cold war legacies.
Chicago race riot of 1919 ignites
On July 27, 1919, racial tensions in Chicago erupted when 17-year-old Eugene Williams, an African-American, was struck and drowned after crossing an informal race line on Lake Michigan’s South Side beach.
White beach-goers had stoned him, triggering outrage.
Over the following week, violence rocked Chicago — the dead included 38 (23 Black, 15 white), and more than 537 were injured.
Property damage exceeded 1,000 homes, and Black residents retaliated following a lack of police protection.
It became one of the bloodiest episodes of the Red Summer of 1919, illustrating systemic racism, segregation and the upheaval driven by the Great Migration — urban Black veterans resisting entrenched oppression.
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