India has had many remarkable Presidents, but one name stands out among them—Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the scientist who became President. Unlike other leaders, he was not a politician by profession but a visionary scientist who contributed immensely to India’s space and defense programs. His journey from a small town in Tamil Nadu to the grand Rashtrapati Bhavan is nothing short of inspiring. In this post on BD JOBZ PREPARATION, we will explore the extraordinary life and achievements of Dr. Kalam, the “Missile Man of India,” who won the hearts of millions.
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The Scientist Who Became President
India’s presidents have come from different backgrounds, but only one, Dr A.P. J. Abdul Kalam, was a scientist. The President of India or Rashtraprati is the head of state, head of the armed forces, and first citizen of India. The President is elected by the elected members of the Parliament and the state legislatures and serves for a term of five years. The President lives in a beautiful mansion in New Delhi known as the Rashtrapati Bhavan. We have had thirteen Presidents since our Independence in 1947. The first female President was elected in 2007.
Pakir Jainulabedeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15th October 1931, in Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu. His father, Jainulabedeen, did not have much education nor much wealth. Abdul Kalam greatly respected and loved his parents. His father taught him how to be honest and good. His mother taught him to have faith in goodness and to be kind to others.
Abdul Kalam went to a primary school in Rameswaram and then to Schwartz High School in Ramanathpuram. For his higher studies, he went to Tiruchirappalli and then to Chennai, where he studied for a doctorate in aeronautical engineering. Now Dr Kalam, he started working for a company making aircraft in Bangalore. Later, he worked with satellites, rockets, and guided missiles, and became a nuclear scientist. When India launched a satellite at a place called Thumba, Dr Kalam was the Director.
In 2001, Dr Kalam became a university professor. he had the brilliant idea of passing on a message to all young Indians. He wanted young people to have a vision, to be proud of India, and to work hard to make India a great nation. he talked to thousands of young people. And then, in 20002, he became the 11th President of India. but he never forgot about the young people of India- young people just like you.
Dr Kalam was awarded more than 30 honorary degrees from universities around the world. he received the Padma Bhushan in 1981, the Padma Vibhushan in 1990, and India’s highest award for a civilian, the Bharat Ratna, in 1997. It is no wonder that he was made President!
One day, when he had been the President for some time, Dr Kalam made a speech to a large audience. here are some of the points he made in that speech.
I have three visions for India. In 3000 years of our history, people have come and invaded us, captured our lands, and conquered our minds. From Alexander onwards Greeks, the Turks, the Moguls, the Portuguese, the British, the French, the Dutch- all of them came and looted us, took over what was ours. Yet we have not done this to any other nation. We have not grabbed their land, their culture, or their history and tried to make them follow our way of life. Why? Because we respect the freedom of others. That is why my first vision is that of FREEDOM. If we are free no one will respect us.
My second vision for India is DEVELOPMENT. For fifty years we have been a developing nation. It is time we see ourselves as a developed nation.
I have a THIRD vision. India must stand up to the world. because I believe that unless India stands up to the world no one will respect us. Only strength respects strength.
We are such a great nation. We have so many amazing success stories. We are the first in milk production. We are number one in remote sensing satellites. We are the second largest producer of wheat. We are the second largest producer of rice.
You and I will have to build a developed India. you must say this to everyone: (India is not an underdeveloped nation).
You say that our government is inefficient. You say that our laws are too old. you say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage. You say that phones don’t work, the railways are a joke, the airlines are the worst in the world, and letters never reach their destination. you say that our country is the absolute pits. you say, say, and say.
What do you do about it? Take a person on his way to Singapore. Give him a name – YOURS.
Give him a face- YOURS. You walk out of the airport and you are at your best. In Singapore, you don’t throw things on the roads or eat in the stores. you are as proud of their Underground Links as they are.
In Singapore you don’t say anything, do YOU?
YOU wouldn’t dare to eat in public during Ramadan in Dubai. You would not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah. You would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in London. You would not dare to spend beyond 55mph in Washington and then tell the traffic cop, Do you know who I am? I am so and so’s son. Take your two bucks and get lost.’
You wouldn’t chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand. Why don’t You spit paan on the streets of Tokyo? Why don’t You buy fake certificates in Boston? We are still talking of the same you.
You can respect a foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own.
Why cannot you be the same here in India?
Translation of the Story, The Scientist who Became President
বিজ্ঞানী যিনি রাষ্ট্রপতি হলেন
ভারতের রাষ্ট্রপতিরা বিভিন্ন পটভূমি থেকে এসেছেন, কিন্তু কেবল একজনই বিজ্ঞানী ছিলেন—ড. এ.পি.জে. আব্দুল কালাম। ভারতের রাষ্ট্রপতি বা রাষ্ট্রপতি হলেন দেশের রাষ্ট্রপ্রধান, সশস্ত্র বাহিনীর প্রধান এবং ভারতের প্রথম নাগরিক। রাষ্ট্রপতিকে সংসদ ও রাজ্য বিধানসভার নির্বাচিত সদস্যদের দ্বারা নির্বাচিত করা হয় এবং তিনি পাঁচ বছরের জন্য দায়িত্ব পালন করেন। রাষ্ট্রপতি নয়াদিল্লির একটি সুদৃশ্য প্রাসাদে বাস করেন, যা রাষ্ট্রপতি ভবন নামে পরিচিত। ১৯৪৭ সালে স্বাধীনতার পর থেকে আমরা তেরোজন রাষ্ট্রপতি পেয়েছি। ২০০৭ সালে প্রথম নারী রাষ্ট্রপতি নির্বাচিত হন।
পাকির জয়নুলআবেদীন আব্দুল কালাম ১৯৩১ সালের ১৫ অক্টোবর তামিলনাড়ুর রামেশ্বরমে জন্মগ্রহণ করেন। তাঁর বাবা, জয়নুলআবেদীন, বেশি শিক্ষিত ছিলেন না বা ধনীও ছিলেন না। আব্দুল কালাম তাঁর পিতামাতাকে খুব শ্রদ্ধা ও ভালোবাসতেন। তাঁর বাবা তাঁকে সততা ও নৈতিকতার শিক্ষা দিয়েছিলেন। তাঁর মা তাঁকে ভালোবাসা ও দয়াশীলতা শেখান।
আব্দুল কালাম রামেশ্বরমের এক প্রাথমিক বিদ্যালয়ে পড়াশোনা করেন, তারপর রামনাথপুরমের শোয়ার্জ হাই স্কুলে যান। উচ্চশিক্ষার জন্য তিনি তিরুচিরাপল্লিতে যান এবং পরে চেন্নাইতে অ্যারোনটিক্যাল ইঞ্জিনিয়ারিংয়ে ডক্টরেট সম্পন্ন করেন। ড. কালাম এরপর ব্যাঙ্গালোরের একটি বিমান নির্মাণ কোম্পানিতে কাজ শুরু করেন। পরবর্তী সময়ে তিনি স্যাটেলাইট, রকেট ও গাইডেড মিসাইল নিয়ে গবেষণা করেন এবং একজন পরমাণু বিজ্ঞানী হন। থুম্বায় যখন ভারত একটি স্যাটেলাইট উৎক্ষেপণ করে, তখন ড. কালাম সেই প্রকল্পের পরিচালক ছিলেন।
২০০১ সালে ড. কালাম বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের অধ্যাপক হন। তখন তাঁর এক অনন্য চিন্তা জন্ম নেয়—ভারতের তরুণদের জন্য একটি বার্তা দেওয়া। তিনি চেয়েছিলেন যে তরুণরা স্বপ্ন দেখুক, ভারতের গৌরব নিয়ে গর্বিত হোক এবং দেশকে উন্নত করার জন্য কঠোর পরিশ্রম করুক। হাজার হাজার তরুণের সঙ্গে তিনি কথা বলেছেন। এরপর ২০০২ সালে তিনি ভারতের একাদশতম রাষ্ট্রপতি নির্বাচিত হন। কিন্তু তিনি কখনো তরুণদের কথা ভুলে যাননি—তরুণরা, যারা তোমাদের মতোই।
ড. কালাম ৩০টিরও বেশি সম্মানসূচক ডিগ্রি লাভ করেন। তিনি ১৯৮১ সালে পদ্মভূষণ, ১৯৯০ সালে পদ্মবিভূষণ এবং ১৯৯৭ সালে ভারতের সর্বোচ্চ নাগরিক পুরস্কার, ভারত রত্ন লাভ করেন। তাই তাঁকে রাষ্ট্রপতি করা হয়েছিল, তা আশ্চর্যের কিছু নয়!
একদিন রাষ্ট্রপতি হিসেবে তিনি এক বিশাল দর্শকের সামনে ভাষণ দেন। সেই ভাষণে তিনি কিছু গুরুত্বপূর্ণ পয়েন্ট তুলে ধরেন—
আমার ভারতের জন্য তিনটি দৃষ্টি আছে।
আমাদের তিন হাজার বছরের ইতিহাসে বহু জাতি আমাদের আক্রমণ করেছে, আমাদের ভূমি দখল করেছে এবং আমাদের মন জয় করার চেষ্টা করেছে। আলেকজান্ডার থেকে শুরু করে গ্রীক, তুর্কি, মোঘল, পর্তুগিজ, ব্রিটিশ, ফরাসি, ডাচ—সবাই আমাদের সম্পদ লুট করেছে, আমাদের দখল করেছে। কিন্তু আমরা কখনো অন্য কোনো জাতির সঙ্গে এমন আচরণ করিনি। আমরা কারো ভূমি, সংস্কৃতি, ইতিহাস দখল করিনি, কিংবা তাদের জীবনধারাকে নিজেদের মতো করতে বলিনি। কেন? কারণ আমরা অন্যের স্বাধীনতাকে শ্রদ্ধা করি। তাই আমার প্রথম দৃষ্টি হলো স্বাধীনতা। যদি আমরা স্বাধীন না থাকি, তবে কেউ আমাদের সম্মান করবে না।
আমার দ্বিতীয় দৃষ্টি হলো উন্নয়ন। গত পঞ্চাশ বছর ধরে আমরা একটি উন্নয়নশীল দেশ। এখন সময় এসেছে আমাদের একটি উন্নত দেশ হিসেবে দেখা।
আমার তৃতীয় দৃষ্টি হলো—ভারতকে বিশ্বে মাথা উঁচু করে দাঁড় করানো। কারণ, আমি বিশ্বাস করি, যদি ভারত বিশ্বদরবারে শক্তভাবে না দাঁড়ায়, তাহলে কেউ আমাদের সম্মান করবে না। কেবল শক্তিই শক্তিকে সম্মান করে।
আমরা একটি মহান জাতি। আমাদের অনেক গৌরবোজ্জ্বল সাফল্য আছে। আমরা দুধ উৎপাদনে প্রথম। আমরা রিমোট সেন্সিং স্যাটেলাইটের ক্ষেত্রে প্রথম। আমরা গম উৎপাদনে দ্বিতীয়। আমরা চাল উৎপাদনে দ্বিতীয়।
তুমি ও আমি মিলে উন্নত ভারত গড়ে তুলব। সবাইকে এই কথাটি বলতে হবে—“ভারত একটি অনুন্নত দেশ নয়।”
তুমি বলো, আমাদের সরকার অদক্ষ। তুমি বলো, আমাদের আইনগুলো খুব পুরোনো। তুমি বলো, পৌরসভা ঠিকমতো আবর্জনা পরিষ্কার করে না। তুমি বলো, ফোন কাজ করে না, রেল পরিষেবা হাস্যকর, বিমান পরিষেবা বিশ্বের মধ্যে সবচেয়ে খারাপ, চিঠি কখনো ঠিকানায় পৌঁছায় না। তুমি শুধু অভিযোগ করেই যাও।
কিন্তু তুমি নিজে কী করছো?
ধরো, তুমি সিঙ্গাপুর যাচ্ছো। একবার কল্পনা করো, সেই ব্যক্তির নাম তোমার।
সিঙ্গাপুরে গিয়ে তুমি রাস্তার ধারে ময়লা ফেলবে না, দোকানে দাঁড়িয়ে খেতে শুরু করবে না। তুমি সেখানে তাদের আইন মেনে চলবে।
সিঙ্গাপুরে গিয়ে তুমি কিছু বলবে না, তাই না?
তুমি দুবাইতে রমজানের সময় প্রকাশ্যে খেতে সাহস পাবে না। তুমি জেদ্দাতে মাথা ঢাকা ছাড়া বাইরে যেতে সাহস পাবে না। তুমি লন্ডনে টেলিফোন অফিসের কর্মচারীকে ঘুষ দেওয়ার কথা কল্পনাও করবে না। তুমি ওয়াশিংটনে ৫৫ মাইল প্রতি ঘণ্টার বেশি গতিতে গাড়ি চালিয়ে ট্রাফিক পুলিশের কাছে বলবে না, “তুমি জানো আমি কে? আমি অমুকের ছেলে, এই নাও টাকা, চলে যাও।”
তুমি অস্ট্রেলিয়া বা নিউজিল্যান্ডের সমুদ্রসৈকতে নারকেলের খোলা ময়লার বাইরে ফেলবে না। তুমি টোকিওর রাস্তায় পানের পিক ফেলবে না। তুমি বোস্টনে নকল সার্টিফিকেট কেনার কথা ভাববে না।
তাহলে, বিদেশে তুমি আইন মেনে চলতে পারো, কিন্তু নিজের দেশে নয় কেন?
কেন তুমি ভারতেও একই আচরণ করতে পারবে না?
Important Vocabulary
Here are 30 difficult words from the English passage along with their parts of speech, meanings (in Bangla and English), and example sentences:
- Mansion (noun) [বাংলা: প্রাসাদ, English: a large impressive house]
Example: The President of India lives in a magnificent mansion called Rashtrapati Bhavan. - Legislature (noun) [বাংলা: আইনসভা, English: a group of people who make laws]
Example: The legislature is responsible for passing new laws in a democratic country. - Respect (verb) [বাংলা: শ্রদ্ধা করা, English: to admire someone or something]
Example: Abdul Kalam always respected his parents for their wisdom and kindness. - Faith (noun) [বাংলা: বিশ্বাস, English: strong belief or trust]
Example: His mother taught him to have faith in goodness and humanity. - Doctorate (noun) [বাংলা: ডক্টরেট ডিগ্রি, English: the highest degree from a university]
Example: Dr. Kalam earned a doctorate in aeronautical engineering. - Aeronautical (adjective) [বাংলা: বিমানবিদ্যা সংক্রান্ত, English: related to the science of flight]
Example: He studied aeronautical engineering to design advanced aircraft. - Guided (adjective) [বাংলা: পরিচালিত, English: controlled or directed]
Example: Dr. Kalam worked on guided missile projects in India. - Vision (noun) [বাংলা: দৃষ্টি, English: the ability to think about the future]
Example: Dr. Kalam had a great vision for India’s development. - Honourary (adjective) [বাংলা: সম্মানসূচক, English: given as an honor without usual requirements]
Example: He received more than 30 honorary degrees from different universities. - Civilian (noun) [বাংলা: বেসামরিক নাগরিক, English: a person not in the military]
Example: The Bharat Ratna is India’s highest award for a civilian. - Invasion (noun) [বাংলা: আক্রমণ, English: an attack by an army]
Example: India has faced many invasions in its long history. - Loot (verb) [বাংলা: লুট করা, English: to steal during war or chaos]
Example: The invaders came to loot India’s wealth and resources. - Conquer (verb) [বাংলা: জয় করা, English: to take control by force]
Example: Many foreign rulers tried to conquer India. - Grab (verb) [বাংলা: দখল করা, English: to take something quickly or forcibly]
Example: Unlike others, India never tried to grab land from other nations. - Respect (noun) [বাংলা: সম্মান, English: high regard for someone or something]
Example: If a country is weak, no one will respect it. - Strength (noun) [বাংলা: শক্তি, English: the quality of being strong]
Example: Only strength respects strength in global politics. - Undeveloped (adjective) [বাংলা: অনুন্নত, English: not advanced]
Example: Dr. Kalam wanted India to rise above being an undeveloped nation. - Efficient (adjective) [বাংলা: দক্ষ, English: working in a well-organized way]
Example: Many people complain that the government is not efficient. - Municipality (noun) [বাংলা: পৌরসভা, English: a local government authority]
Example: The municipality is responsible for cleaning city streets. - Destination (noun) [বাংলা: গন্তব্য, English: a place where someone is going]
Example: Letters often do not reach their correct destination on time. - Garbage (noun) [বাংলা: আবর্জনা, English: waste material]
Example: People should throw garbage in dustbins, not on the streets. - Authority (noun) [বাংলা: কর্তৃপক্ষ, English: an organization with power]
Example: The local authority must enforce strict cleanliness laws. - Dare (verb) [বাংলা: সাহস করা, English: to have the courage to do something]
Example: No one would dare to break traffic rules in Singapore. - Illegal (adjective) [বাংলা: অবৈধ, English: against the law]
Example: Buying fake certificates is illegal in all countries. - Spit (verb) [বাংলা: থুতু ফেলা, English: to eject saliva from the mouth]
Example: People should not spit on public roads. - Exchange (noun) [বাংলা: বিনিময় কেন্দ্র, English: a system of giving one thing for another]
Example: The exchange of goods and services helps the economy grow. - Traffic (noun) [বাংলা: যানবাহন চলাচল, English: movement of vehicles]
Example: The city has strict traffic rules to prevent accidents. - Obey (verb) [বাংলা: মেনে চলা, English: to follow rules or orders]
Example: Good citizens always obey the law. - Respectful (adjective) [বাংলা: শ্রদ্ধাশীল, English: showing politeness or honor]
Example: Everyone should be respectful to their elders. - Proud (adjective) [বাংলা: গর্বিত, English: feeling pleasure or satisfaction]
Example: Dr. Kalam wanted every Indian to feel proud of their country.
Exercises
Questions
1. What position does the President hold in India?
Answer: The President of India is the head of state, head of the armed forces, and the first citizen of the country.
2. In what way was Abdul Kalam different from the other Presidents of India?
Answer: Abdul Kalam was different from other Presidents because he was the only scientist to become the President of India.
3. Which other president is different from all the others?
Answer: The first female President of India, elected in 2007, is different from all the others.
4. How did Abdul Kalam get the title ‘Dr’?
Answer: Abdul Kalam got the title ‘Dr’ after earning a doctorate in aeronautical engineering.
5. What was Dr. Kalam’s vision? Summarize this in three sentences.
Answer: Dr. Kalam had three main visions for India. His first vision was freedom, as he believed that a country must be free to earn respect. His second vision was development, as he wanted India to become a developed nation. His third vision was strength, as he believed that only strong nations gain respect in the world.
6. In what ways is India a developed nation?
Answer: India is developed in many areas. It is the largest producer of milk, the second-largest producer of wheat and rice, and number one in remote sensing satellites.
7. What are some of the complaints people in India make about India?
Answer: People in India often complain that the government is inefficient, the laws are outdated, and municipal services are poor. They also say that phones do not work properly, the railways are in bad condition, airlines are inefficient, and letters do not reach their destination on time.
8. Most Presidents have stayed in office for five years. Which ones did not?
Answer: The passage does not specifically mention which Presidents did not complete their five-year term. However, in Indian history, some Presidents have had shorter terms due to resignation or other reasons.
Reference 1: “… all of them came and looted us …”
What does this mean?
Answer: This means that various foreign invaders and colonizers came to India, took away its wealth, and ruled over its people.Who came and looted us?
Answer: Many groups, including Alexander’s army, the Greeks, the Turks, the Mughals, the Portuguese, the British, the French, and the Dutch, came and looted India.Why does Dr. Kalam bring up this point?
Answer: Dr. Kalam brings up this point to emphasize that India has been repeatedly invaded and exploited, yet Indians have never invaded or looted other nations. He wants Indians to value and protect their freedom and work towards making the country stronger.
Reference 2: “You would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph …”
- What is 55 miles in kilometers?
Answer: 55 miles is approximately 88.5 kilometers. - Where would you not dare to do this?
Answer: You would not dare to drive beyond 55 mph in Washington, USA, because of strict traffic rules. What more does Dr. Kalam say on this topic?
Answer: Dr. Kalam points out that Indians strictly follow rules in foreign countries but often ignore rules in India. He highlights that people respect laws abroad but break them at home, and he urges Indians to have the same discipline and respect for rules in their own country.
C. Words and Meaning
Nuclear Scientist – A scientist who studies and works with nuclear energy, nuclear reactions, and related technology, often for developing energy sources or weapons.
Buy Fake Certificates – To purchase forged or false documents, such as educational degrees or identification papers, which are not legally valid.
- Inefficient – Not working in a well-organized or productive way; wasting time, money, or resources.
- Amazing Success Story – A highly impressive achievement or progress that is remarkable and inspiring.
Developed Nation – A country that has a high standard of living, advanced industries, strong economy, and well-established infrastructure.
2. Fill in the blanks with suitable words from the text:
- An inefficient government does not get work done on time, nor does it use money properly.
- A developed country is one that is wealthy and advanced.
- Dr. Kalam has a vision for young people in India: he wants them to be free, strong, and proud of the country.
- Young people should have respect for their teachers and elders.
D. Discuss and Write
1. List of countries Dr. Kalam mentions and what people do or do not do in each place:
Answer:
| Country | What People Do or Do Not Do |
|---|---|
| Singapore | People do not throw garbage on the streets or eat in public places carelessly. They respect the rules and maintain cleanliness. |
| Dubai | People do not eat in public during Ramadan out of respect for religious customs. |
| Jeddah | People always cover their heads in public, following cultural and religious norms. |
| London | People do not bribe government employees, and the system works efficiently. |
| Washington (USA) | People follow traffic laws strictly and do not drive beyond speed limits. |
| Australia & New Zealand | People throw garbage only in dustbins and keep public places clean. |
| Tokyo (Japan) | People do not spit paan or litter on the streets, maintaining hygiene and cleanliness. |
| Boston (USA) | People do not buy fake certificates, and educational integrity is strictly maintained. |
2. How can India be made even better?
Answer: To make India a better country, we can focus on the following:
✅ Follow Rules and Laws – People should obey traffic laws, respect public property, and avoid bribery.
✅ Maintain Cleanliness – Like in Singapore, everyone should make an effort to keep streets, public places, and the environment clean.
✅ Improve Education and Honesty – Fake certificates should not be used, and the education system should promote integrity and skills.
✅ Develop Infrastructure – Better roads, transportation, and technology should be encouraged to make daily life easier.
✅ Be Responsible Citizens – Instead of only complaining about problems, people should actively work to solve them, whether by voting wisely, participating in community development, or respecting the country’s laws.
By adopting these changes, India can become a stronger, cleaner, and more respected nation.
Read More:
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was more than just a scientist and President—he was a guiding force for the youth of India. His vision for a developed and self-reliant India continues to inspire generations. His dedication to education, hard work, and integrity makes him a true role model. As we reflect on his contributions, let us strive to follow his path of knowledge, discipline, and service to the nation. Stay connected with BD JOBZ PREPARATION for more inspiring stories and educational content.
