Abdul Kalam Dies Teaching: India's Missile Man at Rest

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam collapsed while delivering a lecture to students at the Indian Institute of Management in Shillong, dying the way he lived: teaching the next generation. The "Missile Man of India" had led the country's ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs before serving as the 11th president, the first scientist and bachelor to hold the office. His accessible, inspirational persona made him India's most beloved public figure across political and religious lines. Kalam was 83 years old when he died on July 27, 2015, mid-sentence during a lecture on "Creating a Livable Planet Earth." He had been speaking for about five minutes when he collapsed from a cardiac arrest. Students in the auditorium watched as medical staff rushed him to Bethany Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The nation mourned with an intensity reserved for very few leaders. His funeral in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, his birthplace, drew over 350,000 mourners and was attended by the prime minister, president, and leaders from across the political spectrum. Kalam had been India's 11th president from 2002 to 2007, nominated by the ruling BJP but supported unanimously across party lines, a rare consensus in Indian politics. After leaving office, he returned to what he loved most: teaching and inspiring young people. He visited hundreds of schools and universities, maintaining a personal correspondence with thousands of students who wrote to him. His books, including Wings of Fire and Ignited Minds, became required reading in Indian classrooms. He lived simply, owned few possessions, played the veena, and was a lifelong vegetarian. His death while teaching was considered by many Indians as the most fitting end for a man who had dedicated his post-presidential life to the next generation.