Missile Man at INA

(Press Release)

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the former President of India inaugurated a seminar on “Technology-Enabled Training” at the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala today. This seminal and maiden seminar at INA Ezhimala is a landmark event with a congregation of distinguished luminaries from various organisations including academia, industry and the Indian Armed Forces. Many senior officers, including Lt Gen K Surendra Nath, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Army Training Command, Lt Gen VK Saxena, VSM, Commandant, Army Air Defence College, distinguished academicians like Prof Kannan M Moudgalya from IIT Bombay and representatives from the industry are taking part in this seminar.
The Opening Address was delivered by the Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy, Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan, AVSM, VSM. The highlight of the day’s proceedings was the Keynote Address by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the Chief Guest, in which he said technology empowers the learning process however technology cannot replace or one cannot underestimate teacher’s role as he becomes a mentor or facilitator for learning process. He advised educational institutions to use more and more virtual learning tools like virtual labs etc.
The cadets of INA and the delegates were visibly inspired by Dr Kalam’s delivery and had animated discussions with him after his address. The high standard of the papers presented today are a clear indicator of the quality of the excellence of the training being imparted in the Armed Forces in general and at the Indian Naval Academy in particular. Our Armed Forces are acutely conscious of the need to adopt the most modern practices in all areas of training and learning. The seminar serves to broaden the horizons of trainers and the trainees alike, and has shown how technology-oriented training can be put to excellent use.
The Indian Naval Academy received an overwhelming response for its call for papers and over sixty papers were received from a variety of training organisations, corporates involved in technology-based education, and, training establishments of the three Armed Forces. The seminar is scheduled to run over two days, with a total of eleven papers being presented. Of these, six were presented today. All the papers focus upon the positive impact of technology in the field of education and seek to document the manner in which technology-enabled training has leapfrogged over traditional methods, especially in the last two decades, with entrepreneurs, corporates and the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India all playing critical roles. The papers also stress the advancements that have been made in Information, Communication and Computing Technologies (ICT), which have brought about a sea-change in the outlook of institutions of higher education, in respect of sharing their reservoirs of knowledge and competence. In addition to the training organisations of the Armed Forces, the seminar is being attended by academicians from a number of Engineering Colleges of the Malabar region. All in all, the initiative taken by the INA has been an intellectually exciting and effervescent affair.

APJ rocks FB as ignited 'Like This' people go into a frenzy

Dr Kalam during his early days as a rocket engineer in Thumba. Photo: APJ@FB

By Anantha Krishna M
Express News Service

Bangalore: The 'K-missile' hits the target! As expected, former President A P J Abdul Kalam is likely to overtake some of India's biggest inspiration icons on Facebook, soon. Barely a day after he hit the FB, thousands of his 'devotees' across the world are thronging the 'original Kalam' fan page (www.facebook.com/OfficialKalam), with many profusely thanking him for embracing them on the web.

With just over 1000 followers during its silent trial run period, today the 'Like This' community is breaking all records by the minute, after the official announcement. His office says that the new-kid-on-the-block is enjoying every bit of FB, checking the comments randomly and giving strict instructions to police the page constantly. Interestingly, the latest post which is being 'commented, shared and liked' by the FB clan is an Express report – APJ Gets FBied.

So far, he has 10 posts including a photograph dating back to the Sepian era, when he was a rocket engineer. “Assembling one of the earliest test rockets of ISRO at Thumba, some four-and-a-half-decades-ago. We did not have computers, not even proper calculators. Everything was on slide rule calculations, and surprisingly accurate it was,” says Kalam.

From topics ranging from stinking bus-stands, poverty, agriculture, power-cuts, corruption, missiles, jets to Chennai's Koovam river being posted and commented by the 'Like This' people, the mission-man is said to be watching and enjoying his baby steps on FB. “We want to keep the FB page in one uniform language (read as English), so that everyone gets to read, understand and give appropriate comments. He (Kalam) is keen that only constructive debates happen on the site,” a close aide said.

Back-channel efforts are on to bring all 'Other Kalam' communities under one roof so that the visitors don't get deviated from the 'Real One.'

Copyright@The New Indian Express

Kalam gets FBied, says it’s a page pinned to purpose

Former Indian President A P J Abdul Kalam tests his FB page at his Rajaji Marg residence in Delhi on February 4, ahead of the launch. Photo: Express

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Bangalore: An 80-year-old inspiration-enabled Indian ‘missile’ hits Facebook. Set to penetrate the hearts of fans across the globe for the first time through a social net-working site, this piece of igniting information could be your dose of enlightenment on a Monday morning. It’s official news. It’s exclusive to Express. APJ gets FBIed!
So, when former President A P J Abdul Kalam made up his  mind to get FBied, little did he realize that there are already over 10 ‘others Kalam’s ruling the Net, with one even having a fan following running into lakhs. Hence the original Kalam’s official address on FB will be: www.facebook.com/OfficialKalam. Like his famous missile launch campaigns, Kalam quietly ran the trial run of his new-found-love a month ago and late on Saturday night (February 4), decided to make the site live. Giving him company in the hour of networking was his Man Friday and IIM-Ahmedabad grad Srijan Pal Singh.
“I travel across Indian cities and villages meeting thousands of people, with a majority of them youth, who are great innovators and social entrepreneurs. Through my social networking page, I want to enlighten the nation about such wonderful initiatives, ideas and people –who are silently shaping future of this country. I look forward to a constructive discussion on such initiatives which would be vital for achieving the vision for an economically-developed India by 2020,” Kalam told Express.
He said that his FB page will to be a tool to promote a spirit of ‘What Can I Give’ among the citizens, especially the youth. “I would be sharing all the examples and ideas from the nation, of those people who have been giving to the society, nation or environment to create smiles, happiness and peace. I am calling this ‘The What Can I Give Diary’ which will be regularly uploaded on the page,” says Kalam, with age catching up with his body, but not mind.
Hinting that his FB mission will be one for a cause, Kalam said that he is keen to bring forth the problems and opportunities of rural India to a larger audience. “I have come across cases where farmers have suffered in bad season due to poor technology and in good season due to bad management. Can we bring forth these problems and evolve solutions with a national participation through social networking? Or can we use the social networking platform to discuss, improve and replicate some of the impactful initiatives in villages for empowerment of the farmer and underprivileged communities?” he asks.
When asked how often would he get on to FB, considering that his schedule puts to shame all those who ‘fixed only 24 hours in a day,’ and not 30, Kalam said: “Every day.” When probed about the ‘other Kalams’ on FB, he said: “Such pages will always exist. We will try and merge them into one common page over a period of time.”

Copyright@The New Indian Express

Tears & Triumphs: Tessy’s Agni-IV team drew inspiration from failure | PM's pat on X'Mas eve

Tessy Thomas (centre), Agni-IV Project Director, leads her team at the high-security Advanced Systems Laboratory in Hyderabad. Photo: Tarmak007

Tessy Thomas

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore/Hyderabad: Behind every successful missile, there’s a woman. And, behind every successful woman, there are men, boys, girls and many more! Welcome to Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) – one of the most sensitive wings of Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO). Nobody talks much about it and not even listed in DRDO’s official website! Thanks to the recent success of Agni-IV, the longest missile India tested successfully so far (range in excess of 3500 km), the spotlight has stuck on ASL. 

In a ‘cleared interaction’ with Express at one of ASL’s high security tech-thatched rooms, Tessy Thomas, Project Director, A-IV summoned her faithful troops. India’s first woman scientist to head a missile programme -- now popularly known as Agniputhri – began the session by introducing her team. “My core team consists of around 60 scientists with an average age of 30. The last one year was probably the toughest in my life. Missile scientists are shunned by everyone the moment something goes wrong. Tell me one thing in this world that has got 100 per cent success in the first attempt. We learn from our mistakes. We learn from our failures. We don’t give up,” said Tessy, the leader, the teacher and the philosopher. 

There are two names she swears by: Missile Man A P J Abdul Kalam and Avinash Chander, the soft-spoken Chief Controller, R&D (Missiles and Strategic Systems) of DRDO. “We look to both for inspiration. There are many others who reposed faith in us. Sharmaji, why don’t you speak,” she said looking at S.K. Sharma, Electrical Integration Group of Agni-IV. 

Sharma said that last year’s failure did dent the morale of the team. “The spirits go down for a while. Everyone gets hit. Everyone is questioned. Every system is checked. Even if a missile fails, as you all (media) always love to write, there are many positives we derive. There will be many new critical systems that would have executed its missions for the first time,” he said. Before the recent successful launch of A-IV, Team ASL scanned the project threadbare and is said to have re-visited the ways they worked, getting down to the basics. When asked how it feels to take the orders from a woman, Sharma said: “Madam is very tough!” 

It was evident that Tessy’s team devised many means to stay focused. “Mistakes are pardonable. Openness in accepting them is a great art. The fear factor is removed and we look into the failure analysis carefully. The minute observations of the team are recorded and we narrow down the failure chances mentally to 0.1 per cent,” says C H V Ram Mohan, Deputy Project Director and Vehicle Director, A-IV. 

Brain-storming night-out sessions, tech augmentation coupled with arguments, emotions and sometimes touchdown of tears – all have played key roles -- away from the launch pad. “We draw inspiration from our failure,” says Reshma, a young Scientist (C) with A-IV programme. 

Tears & triumphs! 

|To be continued | Copyright@The New Indian Express |

(CRACKING INDIA'S MISSILE CODE is an exclusive series currently on in The New Indian Express. In the days ahead, you will get to read a mix of news-breaks and tech-upgrades on current and futuristic missile programs of India, in addition to some human-interest pieces. Email your thoughts on this long-range series to anantha.ak@gmail.com and point out factual errors, if any, that might have crept in despite my best efforts.)

PART-XI

Built on gifted land, mini-Smithsonian Museum ready for launch in Kochi

By Anantha Krishnan M & Byju Aryad

Express News Service

Bangalore\Thirvananthapuram:  God’s Own Country will soon have a space science museum on a prime, ‘gifted’ piece of land. The phase-I of this yet-to-be-named facility will officially go live on December 17 at Pallikkara, near Kochi, which is at striking distance from Kerala’s popular water theme park Veega Land. The museum is jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Dr Indira Rajan, a leading educationist in Kerala.

Former Indian President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam will formally launch the construction activities of museum by unveiling a massive model of PSLV, being brought from Bangalore. The 1,800-kilogram model will be up and ready for ‘launch’ when Dr Kalam makes a touchdown in Kochi – a day otherwise celebrated world over by aviation aficionados as Wright Brothers’ Day. It’s a sheer coincidence that the new museum is being launched on the same day, when the Wright Brother eventually gave wings to humanity, with their 12-second historic flight on December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk.

Tipped as a mini version of the famous US-based Smithsonian Museum, once fully operational, only the Space Wing is currently being opened on Saturday from an already-existing structure. “It will be a comprehensive facility, which will capture the best of natural and physical science, space and defence. Our aim is to inspire students towards science streams,” ISRO former chairman Dr G Madhavan Nair told Express. “We are seeking the support of industries and corporates to make this a must-see facility in India. In the next few years, we are confident that the museum will eventually grow as a one-stop-place that showcases the growth and might of Indian aerospace and defence sectors,” Dr Nair said.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation have been entrusted to develop a wing to exhibit its products. “In phases we will have sections for atomic energy, industrial revolution and scientific research. We will also have sections showing live experiments and very natural scientific phenomenon,” Dr Nair, who has played a silent role in executing the project so far, said.

Dr Indira Rajan, head of Minerva Educational Institutions in Kerala and chairperson of the Resul Pookutty Foundation is the Chief Executive Director of the museum. Dr Indira donated prime land in Pallikkara for the museum, purely out of her passion towards science and technology. “I got the idea after visiting NASA and came back discussed with ISRO officials. I am sure it will inspire students and propel their scientific temper,” Dr Indira told Express.

A logo and name-the-museum-contest is currently on for schoolchildren in Kerala and Dr Nair said both will be formally announced soon. “We have also identified an architect with a plan to build some modern structure to house different phases of the museum,” Dr Nair said.

(Copyright@The New Indian Express)

Dr Kalam inaugurates Navigation & Embedded Computer Complex in Hyderabad

 (Press Release)

The state-of-art technology center for design & development of world class Advance Navigation systems & Real-time Embedded computing products was inaugurated by Dr. APJ. Abdul Kalam, Former President of India on 9^th December 2011 (Friday), at RESEARCH CENTER IMARAT (RCI), the brain child of Dr. Kalam and the premier defence Avionic systems laboratory situated in the DRDO’ s Missile complex in Hyderabad.

The ‘NAVIGATION & EMBEDDED COMPUTERS COMPLEX’ which has been built over 14.5 acres within the premises of RCI, houses the most advanced design, fabrication & performance evaluation facilities required for the development of all classes of Navigation sensors & systems and real-time embedded systems. The Inertial Navigation group of RCI, which will be relocating to this complex, has been involved in the design & development of highly critical inertial sensors like Ring Laser Gyroscopes (RLGs), Fiber Optic Gyroscopes (FOGs), Quartz Accelerometers, Hemispherical Resonating gyros (HRGs), etc which go into the Navigation systems of missiles, combat aircraft, torpedoes, ships & submarines.

The Real-time Embedded computing Group of RCI has been developing the real-time computer systems for all DRDO products and is an expert group in state-of-art VLSI & System-on-Chip (SoC) technologies. The DRDO scientists confirm that this new advanced Navigation complex is on par with the best in the world and possesses all relevant infrastructures required for the system development and performance evaluation of the present & future Navigation requirements.

Dr. Kalam, the founder of RCI, also inaugurated the museum within the complex, which showcases the birth and evolution of the navigation & computing technologies of the world & DRDO, from ancient times to the present day. Dr. Kalam, during his address, expressed that his dream of RCI heading towards the Number 1 position in the field of Inertial sensors, Navigation systems & algorithms, etc is becoming a reality and emphasized the need to develop the Single chip Navigation, Guidance & control solution based on the System-on-chip technology.

Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri & the Chief of DRDO Dr. V.K. Saraswat, congratulated the scientists on establishing the world class facility and wished RCI to emerge as the world leader in avionics. The Chief Controller R&D (Missiles & Stategic Systems) Shri. Avinash Chander, Director of RCI Shri. SK. Ray and many other Chief Controllers & top scientists of DRDO were present during the occasion.

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http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/2011/12/drdo-to-unravel-hi-tech-missile-complex.html

Koodankulam N-plant formula: Spotlight on Dr Kalam's Man Friday Ponraj

(Above) Dr Kalam's Man Friday V. Ponraj at work. (Below) Dr Kalam celebrates his 79th birthday in the company of Ponraj (centre, Ash colour shirt) and his longest serving private secretary R.K. Prasad (extreme right) at the Government Guest House in Allapuzha in Kerala on October 15, 2010. Photo Courtesy: Billion Beats

By Anantha Krishnan M.

Express News Service

Bangalore: His is a story that has envied many in the last 10 years. Hailing from Thonugal village in Kariapatti thaluk of Virdhunagar district in Tamil Nadu, Ponraj, a retired policeman’s son, has stunned everyone with his meteoric rise. This 46-year-old Computer Science post-graduate from Bharathidasan University in Trichy, is today one of the vital member of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s inspiration team. Hence, “I know Ponraj,” has become one famous line you get to hear from all those who have interacted with Kalam. Be it politicians, scientists, technocrats, tech gurus and academicians! It’s not surprising that he is back in the news again with the Koodankulam nuclear plant issue, with his 10-point formulae giving possible solutions.

So what makes Ponraj special? What did Kalam see in him? Technically, he is as Scientist-G, with Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the makers of India’s Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. “He was sent on a deputation to Rashtrapathi Bahvan in 2002 when Dr Kalam became the President. We have now posted him to our Delhi office and extending his services to Kalam,” ADA sources tell Express. At Raisina Hills, Ponraj was made Director, Technology Interface to the President, and then on he has never looked back.

Ponraj captured Dr Kalam’s heart when the former visited ADA in early 2000. “He was a Network Services specialist and Dr Kalam wanted someone to put together his thoughts. Their wavelength matched and the rest is history,” sources said. Ponraj was first tasked with creating a website (abdulkalam.com) for Kalam. His tech-savvy touch and speed floored Kalam the website became a hit within no time.

This Correspondent met Ponraj in June 2002, while he was about to board a bus to Chennai from Bangalore, soon after Kalam’s name was finalized for the presidentship. “He wanted to update the website following the recent developments. I am going there to assist him answer the flood of mail. He is particular about answering queries from youngsters,” was Ponraj’s response.

Today he travels with Dr Kalam to all major programmes and propagates his Mission 2020. Interestingly, soon after the Jayalalitha came to power in TN this year, Ponraj was given the task to inspire the MLAs on various aspects of good governance for two days. His power-point presentation to Jaya’s team is said to have been a smashing hit.

While Ponraj’s is a story of spotlights, then R.K. Prasad’s, private secretary to Dr Kalam, is just the opposite. Prasad, the longest serving aide of Dr Kalam, is probably an unsung hero in the Missile Man’s Mission Possible team!

(Copyright@The New Indian Express)

Lots of care in drafting 10-point formula: Speaking to The New Indian Express in Bangalore, V. Ponraj said that he took extreme care in drafting the 10-point formula considering the sensitivities involved with the Koodankulam issue. “I have visited many nuclear plants along with Dr Kalam and it gave rare insights for me while making the report. In the last three months, ever since I was given the task to script the report by Dr Kalam, I have been interacting with a numbers of nuclear scientists and experts. We have gone into lots of details and analyzed the issue threadbare,” Ponraj said.

Dr Kalam’s team also interacted with various members of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) before finalizing the report. “In addition, we have also taken suggestions from the people and activists,” Ponraj said told Express, soon after landing at the Bangalore airport along with Dr Kalam. The team was heading to Chitradurga for an event organized by the Indian Institute of Science.

(Copyright@The New Indian Express)

Dr Kalam@80: Missile Man wants to hit a 100 to witness India's Moon walk!

Former Indian President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam celebrates his 80th birthday at the Circuit Guest House in Coimbatore in the company of his close associates and friends. Photos: Copyright @ Billion Beats

India’s inspiration machine and former President of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam completed his ‘80^th orbit around the Sun’ on October 15. The birthday boy was in his elements when his friends and associates cut the cake at the Circuit Guest House in Coimbatore at the stroke of the midnight. Among the special guests who witnessed his ‘entry into the 81^st orbit,’ included his security staff, attendants, cooks and drivers.

The livewire ‘missile man’ then ensured that everyone got their share of cake and ate it too. While the shutterbugs shot at will, Kalam moved around accepting greetings from all. T. Sunil Kumar, an expert with the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) of Coimbatore police – on duty at the guest house – was completely floored when Kalam called him for a photo-op. “Never in my life I experienced something like this and ever I think, I will. I am moved by his simplicity, despite all the attention around,” Sunil said.

So was the case with the guest house attendant Giri, who has been taking care of Kalam’s dietary needs, right from his presidential days. “When he sits for dinner, he will ask whether I had mine. Then he would want to know in detail, what I had. I am blessed to serve him whenever he comes to Kovai,” says Giri. The b’day boy finally retired for the day at 2 pm, after making the final touches to his speech copies for the next day.

On Saturday, addressing a group of students at Nandankare -- on the outskirts of Coimbatore -- Kalam hoped that he would touch a century so as to witness the might of today’s youth. “If I complete 100 years...if I am alive, then I will be seeing many of you walking on the Moon and Mars. Hold on to your dreams to reach your goals. Never give up. Will you?” he said. R.K. Prasad, his personal secretary says that Kalam wants to meet everyone, who wants to meet him. “He doesn’t want to disappoint a single soul. He wants to connect with everyone, come what may,” says Prasad. Kalam's associate V. Ponraj too echoed the same view. "He has dedicated his life to India's youth. It is the power of the youth that propels Dr Kalam's energy," Ponraj said.

Hundreds of people were seen lined up on the roads waving at Kalam’s convoy, with some jumping in joy after spotting him inside the white bullet-proof Ambassador car. Seeing the never-ending enthusiasm of people, A. Sivathanu Pillai, head of BrahMos supersonic missile project, felt that Kalam’s ability to set goals for every human being he meets makes him different from the rest. “He is always dreaming of giving India’s youth an aim for shaping their lives with definite goals,” says Pillai, a long-time associate of Kalam.

As he stepped into the Coimbatore airport on Saturday evening to chart the flight-path for his next mission, the story remained the same with autograph and photograph hunters taking vantage points for that exclusive moment in their lives.

Video: Dr Kalam turns 80

Video: Ravishanker Coimbatore

Cakes & Missiles: 'The Week' that was!

Copyright@The Week

Kalam@79: Cakes for cops, gyan for friends and blessings for the Billion!

Kalam@79 Photos: Saju Bhaskar, Mathrubhumi

October 14. Time: 11: 45 pm. It was all quiet and calm at the Government Guest House at Alappuzha with all VIP/VVIP guests retiring for the day. Outside, it was a fortress of sorts, with the Kerala Police personnel keeping a hawk-eye vigil on every visitor, especially those entering the ‘corner room.’ After day-long marathon meetings, we were told that their ‘very special guest’ straight away hit the dinner table along with his close aides. “The President is having his dinner,” said one of the gun-toting cops. The President in question is the former President of India Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and he is still referred to as the President by many in Kerala. Time 12:30. For a known Kalam-aide, the night was still young. But this night was special. To make the moment memorable, we passed the security test first. Armed with a chocolate cake and a bouquet, we were called in by Mr. Prasad, Kalam’s Man Friday for decades. Giving me company were my friends Dennis Marcus Mathew from The Hindu and veteran photo-journalist Saju Bhaskar from Mathrubhumi.“Did you all have your dinner?” the birthday boy enquired in his inimitable style. We quickly cleaned up the table and the stage was set for a very, very quiet, simple, celebration. India’s inspirational machine just turned 80. In the presence of his Private Secretary and trusted aide Mr. R.K. Prasad and ADA engineer Mr. V. Ponraj, Dr Kalam blew the candles and later cut the cake while we all sang the B’day song. “I am entering my 80th orbit,” he told. Looking back at 79 years, Dr Kalam said the happiest moment for him came when spin-off technology from Agni heat shield was transformed to make lightweight calipers called floor reaction orthosis (FRO). “The SLV-3 launch, the Agni missile launch, the N-blast at Pokhran, India 2020 Vision discussions and meeting close to 9.5 million youth across the country are my other memorable moments,” the man of the moment said. And then came the big surprise. He stood up by saying ‘okay, okay, okay’ took the cake tray and turned back asking his aide to open the door. The policemen outside, tired after a hectic day’s work, could not believe that the former First Citizen of India wants to share the moment of joy with them. “Come, come, come…Take, take, take,” he said, inviting everyone who were present there. When he retired for the day, past 1 pm, some of the police personnel were delighted that he had in fact agreed to their request to meet their families the next day morning. As promised, he interacted with their families, the guest house staff, the cook, drivers and every human being who was eager to shake hands with him. Every possible gadget under the sun that could take a photo went live soon. On way to the 200-year-old Edathua church, one could see people thronging on both sides of the road for kilometers together to get a glimpse of India’s missile man. Throughout the venues, he was given the welcome, befitting a king. His now-famous interactive sessions with schoolchildren, touched upon issues ranging from poverty, science, moral values, technology and of course, the power of dreams. Ten years from now, he will be 90. Then India would touchdown@2020 – his dream destination for the billion. And, that birthday will be truly special for India.

Copyright@Tarmak007