Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who passed away recently is known for his special attachment to Hyderabad where he had once led India's path breaking and highly regarded missile development programmer and other projects where the spin-offs of defence research was used for healthcare.
Dr. Kalam was director of the Defense Research and Development
Dr. Kalam was director of the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for a decade right from1983, where he headed the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) and Defence Research Development Laboratory (DRDL).
Kalam was reportedly instrumental in setting up as well as strengthening of defense laboratories in the city such as Research Centre Imarat (RCI), which is spread over 2,100 acres and the advanced research center here attracts talent from all over India as it is a hub of critical missile technology development. Kalam also worked hard to ensure there is extensive greenery on its sprawling premises.
Kalam inspired young scientists like Tessy Thomas, who had joined the DRDL in 1988 and she became the project director of Agni V, inspired by Kalam. Kalam continued his association with hyderabad’s defence laboratories and interacted till his last days with the scientists and researchers with whom he shared a fond bond.
