World Students’ Day: Honouring Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s Brilliance On His 91st Birth Anniversary

Honouring former Indian president APJ Abdul Kalam, who was born on the same day in 1931, October 15 of each year is observed as World Students’ Day. The purpose of the day is to honour Kalam’s contributions to education and students.

The International Day of Education was established by the United Nations (UN) in 2010. The UN selects a theme each year to honour the day’s celebration. The goal of World Students Day this year is to underline the importance of education as a fundamental human right for everyone around the world. The theme for 2022 is “Changing Course, Transforming Education.”

Kalam was born in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. Early in his life, Kalam studied science and physics. Through his insightful lectures, Kalam devoted his life to teaching and encouraging students to become the best versions of themselves.

Because he oversaw the creation of India’s most important missiles and its civilian space programmes, he was also known as the “Missile Man of India.”

He held some of the most prestigious roles in administration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The aerospace expert was elected as India’s 11th president in 2002.

After serving in office till 2007, Kalam committed his life to teaching. He was appointed as a visiting professor at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM), Shillong, Ahmedabad, and Indore.

Additionally, Kalam received the Bharat Ratna in 1997, which is India’s highest civilian honour. He was also honoured with the Padma Bhushan (1981) and the Padma Vibhushan (1990) for his services to the Indian government as a scientific advisor.

Kalam passed away after collapsing due to a cardiac arrest on July 27, 2015, while delivering a lecture at IIM-Shillong. His efforts are still regarded as some of the top scientific and technological advancements in the nation.