Dr Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam – 'a 200 per cent Indian', as his colleagues call him, has made India proud in myriad ways. "We must think and act like a nation of a billion people and not like that of a million people. Dream, dream, dream ! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action," said the man who dreamt for India, and acted on its behalf to place her in the exclusive Space Club. He wove a first world dream for the third world nation. He is a vegetarian and teetotaler, who recites the Quran and the Bhagwad Gita with equal devotion and has an unparalleled career as a defense scientist to be crowned with the highest civilian award of India – The Bharat Ratna.

As the Scientific and Technology Advisor to the Prime Minister Of India, he propelled India into the select club of Missiles possessing countries. He recently resigned from the post to take up a more ambitious program of teaching and creating scientific temper in the minds of young inquisitive and knowledge thirsty Indians. His potent concoction to 'hurl' India in the Super Power Countries Club, 'Vision 2020', spells nothing short of a revolution at grass-root levels.  

His 'mantra' or gospel for India are; 'freedom, development and stand up to the world'. After the Pokhran blast, Bombay Times labeled him as The Missile Man. The English translation of his poem Tumult reads :

"Did I explore space to enhance science, or did I provide weapons of destruction."