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This is because some of the greatest Muslim minds in India and elsewhere have stayed far away from the do’s and don’ts of Islam and have never ever been fanatical.All the Muslims you talked about who developed Hindustani Classical music used to start their daily “Abhyas” or “Riyaz” early in the morning with a fervent prayer to the Hindu Goddess of eloquence - Mata Saraswati.And the glorious Goddess showered her infinite blessings on these true Muslim sons of our soil.Let us look at the life of Shehnai maestro Bismillah KhanThe Shehnai — a wind musical instrument — was largely reserved for weddings and other celebrations before Ustad Bismillah Khan elevated its status in Indian classical music and took it to a global audience.Khan was born on 21 March 1916 in Buxar city of Bihar in the midst of the First World War. In his lifetime, he saw World War II and the Partition of India, but never felt perturbed seeing these developments around him as long as he had his “begum” — the shehnai — by his side.Khan’s love for his city Benaras is legendary.“I can never even think of leaving Benaras,” Khan had told ThePrint editor-in-chief Shekhar Gupta in an interview for NDTV’s Walk The Talk show, when asked if at the time of Partition his family ever thought of moving to Pakistan.It was the city where he spent his teenage years and, during that time, he began learning the shenhai, also known as an ‘Oboe’, under his guru Ali Baksh, who played in the Kashi Vishwanath temple.“If anyone wants to meet me, they will have to come here. I will not go anywhere, whether it’s a raja, a maharaja, or anyone else,” he said.Khan’s attachment to Benaras or Varanasi runs deep, and understandably so. His ancestors were all musicians who performed in temples for generations, earning a pittance.During those times, musicians performing in temples were not regarded with much reverence. Khan’s extraordinary adoration and dedication to the instrument — refining its sound and softness — brought him the world’s attention, and earned him the title ‘ustad’, or maestro, which is now a permanent prefix to his name.Our Ustad found his creative call in a temple in Benaras, where at the age of 12, while praying in the temple, Bismillah “received a signal” from Balaji, an avatar of lord Vishnu, who told him: ‘Play, son!’That he was a Muslim who took intense pleasure in music in a Hindu city made him a “delicious paradox that can only be Indian”, said historian Ramachandra Guha. More importantly, it enforced in him a kind of secular spirit that no other artiste has so far been able to embody.An Iraqi maulana had once confronted Khan and said his music was blasphemous, since Islam considered it so.“He said music is pure evil, a trap of the devil, and you mustn’t fall into it. I said to him: Maulana, all I ask is that you be fair. Then I started playing Raag Durbari on the Shehnai, and when I finished I asked if this was blasphemy”, “He was speechless, he had nothing left to say. I told him not to fall into these errors.”Khan’s rendition of the Raag Bhairav melds the traditional raag with praise for Allah.“Even if the world ends”, he once famously said, “the music will still survive. Music has no caste.”For Khan, music had no religion either — and this was a maxim by which he lived. He called himself a worshipper of Allah and Goddess Saraswati, and delighted in playing music for both equally.It’s no wonder then that Khan was handpicked by India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to perform for the country from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the eve of the Independence on 14 August 1947.Khan took his craft personally and seriously, often refusing to play unless arrangements were made to his liking. It is one reason why he decided to quit making music for films.“They wanted me to do things their way. I said: Am I here to learn from you? I just packed up and quit. They think they have so much money — they’ll throw a bit here and there, and I will be ready to do whatever they want…They thought they would dictate terms—that I should do what they told me. It’s the other way around—I tell them what to do and they follow”.Khan’s music thrived just as well without the screens. He was awarded all the four highest civilian awards — the Padma Shri (1961), Padma Bhushan (1968), Padma Vibhushan (1980) and the Bharat Ratna (2001). He was also made a Fellow of the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1994.Khan, however, led a very austere and minimalistic life till his death on 21 August 2006. The only material item that mattered to him was his shehnai, which he slept with and lovingly called ‘begum’ after the death of his wife.“This Shehnai is such a thing that when I lift it, I start thinking from my heart. This is my companion,” he said.______________________________________Take the field of Mathematics that is so similar to Music.Stanford mathematics Professor Maryam Mirzakhani, the first and to-date only female winner of the Fields Medal since its inception in 1936, died Friday, July 14, 2017. She had been battling breast cancer since 2013; the disease spread to her liver and bones in 2016. Mirzakhani was 40 years old. She died at Stanford Hospital.Professor Maryam Mirzakhani was the recipient of the 2014 Fields Medal, the top honor in mathematics.The quadrennial Fields Medal, which Mirzakhani won in 2014, is the most prestigious award in mathematics, often equated in stature with the Nobel Prize. Mirzakhani specialized in theoretical mathematics that read like a foreign language by those outside of mathematics: moduli spaces, Teichmüller theory, hyperbolic geometry, Ergodic theory and symplectic geometry.Mastering these approaches allowed Mirzakhani to pursue her fascination for describing the geometric and dynamic complexities of curved surfaces – spheres, doughnut shapes and even amoebas – in as great detail as possible. Her work was highly theoretical in nature, but it could have impacts concerning the theoretical physics of how the universe came to exist and, because it could inform quantum field theory, secondary applications to engineering and material science. Within mathematics, it has implications for the study of prime numbers and cryptography.Mirzakhani joined the faculty of Stanford University in 2009, where she served as a professor of mathematics until her death.“Maryam is gone far too soon, but her impact will live on for the thousands of women she inspired to pursue math and science,” said Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne. “Maryam was a brilliant mathematical theorist, and also a humble person who accepted honors only with the hope that it might encourage others to follow her path. Her contributions as both a scholar and a role model are significant and enduring, and she will be dearly missed here at Stanford and around the world.”Despite the breadth of applications of her work, Mirzakhani said she enjoyed pure mathematics because of the elegance and longevity of the questions she studied.A self-professed “slow” mathematician, Mirzakhani’s colleagues describe her as ambitious, resolute and fearless in the face of problems others would not, or could not, tackle. She denied herself the easy path, choosing instead to tackle thornier issues. Her preferred method of working on a problem was to doodle on large sheets of white paper, scribbling formulas on the periphery of her drawings. Her young daughter described her mother at work as “painting.”“You have to spend some energy and effort to see the beauty of math,” she told one reporter.In another interview, she said of her process: “I don’t have any particular recipe [for developing new proofs]. … It is like being lost in a jungle and trying to use all the knowledge that you can gather to come up with some new tricks, and with some luck you might find a way out.”Mirzakhani was born in Tehran, Iran, and – by her own estimation – was fortunate to come of age after the Iran-Iraq war when the political, social and economic environment had stabilized enough that she could focus on her studies. She dreamed of becoming a writer, but mathematics eventually swept her away.She attended an all-girls high school in Tehran, led by a principal unbowed by the fact that no girl had ever competed for Iran’s International Mathematical Olympiad team. Mirzakhani first gained international recognition during the 1994 and 1995 competitions. In 1994, she earned a gold medal. In 1995, she notched a perfect score and another gold medal.After graduating college at Sharif University in Tehran, she headed to graduate school at Harvard University, where she was guided by Curtis McMullen, a fellow Fields Medal winner. At Harvard, Mirzakhani was distinguished by her determination and relentless questioning, despite the language barrier. She peppered her professors with questions in English. She jotted her notes in Farsi.McMullen described Mirzakhani as filled with “fearless ambition.” Her 2004 dissertation was a masterpiece. In it, she solved two longstanding problems. Either solution would have been newsworthy in its own right, according to Benson Farb, a mathematician at the University of Chicago, but then Mirzakhani connected the two into a thesis described as “truly spectacular.” It yielded papers in each of the top three mathematics journals.“The majority of mathematicians will never produce something as good,” Farb said at the time. “And that’s what she did in her thesis.”Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the “unprecedented brilliance of this creative scientist and modest human being, who made Iran’s name resonate in the world’s scientific forums, was a turning point in showing the great will of Iranian women and young people on the path towards reaching the peaks of glory … in various international arenas,” according to Iranian state media.“What’s so special about Maryam, the thing that really separates her, is the originality in how she puts together these disparate pieces,” said Steven Kerckhoff at the time of her Fields Medal award. Kerckhoff is a professor at Stanford who works in the same area of mathematics. “That was the case starting with her thesis work, which generated several papers in all the top journals. The novelty of her approach made it a real tour de force.”After earning her doctorate at Harvard, Mirzakhani accepted a position as assistant professor at Princeton University and as a research fellow at the Clay Mathematics Institute before joining the Stanford faculty.“Maryam was a wonderful colleague,” said Ralph L. Cohen, the Barbara Kimball Browning Professor of Mathematics at Stanford. “She not only was a brilliant and fearless researcher, but she was also a great teacher and terrific PhD adviser. Maryam embodied what being a mathematician or scientist is all about: the attempt to solve a problem that hadn’t been solved before, or to understand something that hadn’t been understood before. This is driven by a deep intellectual curiosity, and there is great joy and satisfaction with every bit of success. Maryam had one of the great intellects of our time, and she was a wonderful person. She will be tremendously missed.”In recent years, she collaborated with Alex Eskin at the University of Chicago to answer a mathematical challenge that physicists have struggled with for a century: the trajectory of a billiard ball around a polygonal table. That investigation into this seemingly simple action led to a 200-page paper which, when it was published in 2013, was hailed as “the beginning of a new era” in mathematics and “a titanic work.”“You’re torturing yourself along the way,” she would offer, “but life isn’t supposed to be easy.”Mirzakhani is survived by her husband, Jan Vondrák, and a daughter, Anahita, as well as her parents, sister and two brothers.Maryam Mirzakhani though she was born a Muslim, was not religious, did not wear the Hijab and married a non-Muslim and named her daughter after the Persian goddess of fertility, water, health and healing, and wisdom.There are so many more examples I can give but these two should make millions of Muslim fanatics in both India and Pakistan to pause and ponder over the fact that you could be a silly fanatic all your life but never once receive God’s glance or benediction to achieve such greatness.References:Bismillah Khan - WikipediaUstad Bismillah Khan (Born Qamaruddin Khan , 21 March 1916 – 21 August 2006), often referred to by the title Ustad , was an Indian musician credited with popularizing the shehnai , a subcontinental wind instrument of the oboe class. While the shehnai had long held importance as a folk instrument played primarily [schooled] in traditional ceremonies, Khan is credited with elevating its status and bringing it to the concert stage. [1] [2] He was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna , in 2001, becoming the third classical musician after M. S. Subbalakshmi and Ravi Shankar to be awarded Bharat Ratna. Notable Works [ edit ] The Notable Works of Ustad Bismillah Khan are Immortal Series , Which are played every year in the Burima Puja of Krishnagar. Personal life [ edit ] Bismillah Khan was born on 21 March 1916 into a family of traditional Muslim musicians in Dumraon , in what is now the eastern Indian state of Bihar , as the second son of Paigambar Bux Khan and Mitthan. [3] [4] His father was a court musician employed in the court of Maharaja Keshav Prasad Singh of Dumraon Estate in Bihar. His grandfather Ustad Salar Hussain Khan and grandfather Rasool Bux Khan were also musicians in the Dumraon palace. [3] He was named Qamruddin at birth, to rhyme with his elder brother's name Shamsuddin. Upon seeing the new born, his grandfather Rasool Baksh Khan, also a shehnai player, is said to have exclaimed "Bismillah", or "In the name of Allah", and thereafter he came to be known by this name. [1] [4] At the age of six, he moved to Varanasi in the state of Uttar Pradesh, [2] to be apprenticed to his maternal uncle, Ali Bux 'Vilayatu' Khan, a shehnai player attached to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple . [5] At the age of 14 Bismillah accompanied his uncle to the Allahabad music conference. In 1932, at the age of 16, he entered into an arranged marriage with a cousin. Popular culture [ edit ] Khan had a brief association with movies. He played the shehnai for super star Rajkumar 's role of Appanna in the Vikram Srinivas's Kannada movie Sanaadi Appanna which became a blockbuster. He acted in Jalsaghar , a movie by Satyajit Ray and provided sound of shehnai in 'Vijay Bhatt's Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959). Noted director Goutam Ghose directed Sange Meel Se Mulaqat , a documentary about the life of Khan. [5] Students [ edit ] Khan attributed his skill to the blessings of Lord Vishwanath, and believed that there was little that he could teach his disciples. [6] Khan seldom accepted students. He thought that if he would be able to share his knowledge it wouldn't be useful as it would only give his students a little knowledge. Some of his disciples and followers include S. Ballesh , [7] and Krishna Ballesh [8] [9] [10] [11] as well as Khan's own sons, Nazim Hussain and Nayyar Hussain . [12] Death of Bismillah Khan [ edit ] On 17 August 2006, Bismillah Khan's health deteriorated and he was admitted to the Heritage Hospital, Varanasi for treatment. Khan's lashttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bismillah_KhanMuslims in Indian classical music today As a supplicant before a deity, I am immensely attracted to Bhairav [Shiva]. And, as a lover, I am obsessed with Bhairavi [Parvati, Shiva’s consort]… The average Hindu is conditioned by the …https://nikhiletc.wordpress.com/2016/06/01/muslims-in-indian-classical-music-today/

51 Most Beautiful Women in the WorldSince time immemorial, the definition of beauty has kept evolving. We have compiled a list of the top 50 most beautiful women in the world who have created magic either through their work or their auras. Although, we must not forget that there is definitely more to beauty than just the physical attributes of a person. It’s something that comes from within your soul. It’s the light that shines through you, and it’s in your personality. So ladies, please don’t mistake beauty for something as shallow as your physical appearance. You’re beautiful just the way you are.Let us only get inspired by one another and lift each other up.So here’s the list of these most beautiful women who have worked hard to get to where they stand today.List Of 51 Most Beautiful Women In The World1. Bella HadidDate Of Birth: 9 October 1996Place Of Birth: Washington DCHeight: 1.75mProfession: ModelAwards & Achievements: Model of the year, Social Media Star of the YearThough Bella Hadid is only in her early 20s, she has earned quite a name for herself. According to the Golden Ratio of Beauty Phi (a scientific measure of physical perfection), she is the most beautiful girl in the world. This young model has both beauty and brains, and she sure knows how to walk the ramp and steal all eyes. Her chiseled chin and long legs give some of the best models in the industry a run for their money. Though Bella has achieved immense fame and success, her friends and family claim that she is extremely humble and adores the simple things in life.2. Deepika PadukoneDate of Birth: January 5, 1986Place of Birth: Copenhagen, DenmarkHeight: 1.74 mProfession: ActressAwards and Achievements: She has received several awards including three Filmfare AwardsDeepika Padukone has evolved and she’s HUGE! She is one of the highest-paid actresses in the world. She has done some wonderful work in movies like Bajirao Mastani, Piku and others. Her first Hollywood project was in the action film xXx: Return of Xander Cage in 2017. She also has her own clothing line and has started a foundation called Live Laugh Love to create awareness about mental health in India.3. Scarlett JohanssonDate of Birth: November 22, 1984Place of Birth: Manhattan, New York, U.SHeight: 1.6 mProfession: ActressAwards and achievements: She won the BAFTA and was also nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in Lost in TranslationScarlett Johansson is the prettiest girl in the world. She is an American actress, model, and singer. She began her acting career during her childhood. The film ‘Lost in Translation’ alongside Bill Murray was her break-out role. ScarJo convincingly played a 25-year-old’s character at the age of 18. Some of her other popular films include – Vicki Cristina Barcelona, Lucy, Don Jon, and others.4. Blake LivelyDate of Birth: August 25, 1987Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, U.SHeight: 1.78 mProfession: ActressAwards and Achievements: She won the Teen Choice Award for Best Breakthrough Performance among othersLively is best known for her role as Serena Van Der Woodsen in the hit TV series Gossip Girl. She has also worked in movies like Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Green Lantern, The Age of Adeline and The Shallows. She is married to the actor Ryan Reynolds.5. Angelina JoliegettyimagesDate of Birth: June 4, 1975Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United StatesHeight: 1.69 mProfession: Actress, filmmaker, humanitarian, UN AmbassadorAwards and Achievements: She has received an Oscar, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and three Golden Globe AwardsAngelina Jolie hottest woman of all time. She is cited as Hollywood’s highest-paid actress. She became popular after playing the lead role in the Lara Croft blockbuster movies. She also actively works on child rights, human and women’s rights issues. She founded the Jolie-Pitt Foundation that contributes towards humanitarian causes all around the world.6. Halle BerryDate of Birth: August 14, 1966Place of Birth: Cleveland, Ohio, USAHeight: 1.65 mProfession: ActressThe multi-talented and most attractive women Halle Berry began her career as a model and went on to become one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actresses. As of 2019, Halle remains the only African-American actress to have been awarded an Oscar for a leading role, which she won for her role in the 2002 film Monster’s Ball.7. Aishwarya Rai BachchanDate of Birth: November 1, 1973Place of Birth: Mangalore, IndiaHeight: 1.7 mProfession: ActressAwards and Achievements: She has been awarded the Padma Shri by the Government Of India and she has also won numerous other awards and accoladesAishwarya Rai is on almost every “world’s most beautiful women” list that exists on the planet. She was crowned Miss World in 1994. She made her acting debut in Mani Ratnam’s 1997 Tamil film – Iruvar and Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, her Hindi film also released in the same year. She has acted in over forty films in Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali.8. Beyonce KnowlesDate of Birth: September 4, 1981Place of Birth: Houstan, Texas, U.SHeight: 1.69 mProfession: Singer-songwriter, ActressAwards and Achievements: With a total of 22 awards and 62 nominations from the Grammys for her music (as a solo artist and with Destiny’s Child), she is the most nominated woman and the second most-awarded woman in Grammy historyBeyonce also referred to as ‘Queen B’ by her fans, is one of the biggest and most successful musicians in the world. Her thrilling vocals and her dancing skills are something nobody has matched up to. She in herself is a global brand. She’s married to the successful hip-hop artist Jay-Z.9. Priyanka ChopragettyimagesDate of Birth: July 18, 1982Place of birth: Jamshedpur, IndiaHeight: 1.69 mProfession: ActressAwards and Achievements: She has received several awards including the National Film Award and five Filmfare AwardsPriyanka Chopra won the title of Miss World in 2000. She is one of the most famous Indian actresses. Initially, she wanted to study aeronautical engineering but she moved to the film industry after some great opportunities came knocking at her door. Some of her noteworthy works include Barfi, Bajirao Mastani, Fashion and Mary Kom. In 2015, she began starring in the ABC TV series Quantico. She is one of the highest paid actresses in India and is also known for her philantropic work. Time Magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.10. Gal GadotgettyimagesDate of Birth: April 30, 1985Place of Birth: IsraelHeight: 1.78 mProfession: ActressShe is primarily known for her role as Wonder Woman in the new Wonder Woman movie. She was five months pregnant during reshoots and yet she slayed the part to make the film a HUGE hit across the world. She says she wants both boys and girls to look upto Wonder Woman.11. Emma WatsongettyimagesDate of Birth: April 15, 1990Place of Birth: Paris, FranceHeight: 1.65 mProfession: ActressAwards and Achievements: She has won over a dozen awards for her performance in The Harry Potter movies and her other worksThe sexy beautiful women Emma Watson, the star of the Harry Potter franchise, blossomed into a much-talented and respectable actress. She is one of the most influential celebrities in the world. She went to Brown University. She has also acted in movies like Perks of Being a Wallflower, Noah and The Beauty and the Beast.12. Kat DenningsgettyimagesDate of Birth: June 13, 1986Place of Birth: Pennsylvania, United StatesHeight: 1.61 mProfession: ActressAwards and Achievements: She has been nominated for various awards like The MTV Movie Awards for Best Breakthrough Performance and she won the Crystal Reel Award for Best Actress for her role in To Write Love on Her ArmsKat Dennings made her acting debut on HBO’s Sex and the City after which she worked in several movies like the 40-year Old Virgin, Big Momma’s House 2, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist and Thor among her other works. She also plays the lead role of Max in the CBS sitcom 2 Broke Girls. She is the one among beautiful celebrities13. Sofia VergaragettyimagesDate of Birth: July 10, 1972Place of Birth: ColombiaHeight: 1.7 mProfession: ActressAwards and Achievements: She has been nominated for 4 Golden Globe Awards for her performance in the hit comedy show Modern Family besides winning other awardsHer beauty stands out besides her cool Colombian accent. She stars on the ABC comedy series Modern Family as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett. She was discovered by a photographer while she was walking along a Colombian beach and was soon offered with tons of modeling offers. She is considered to be one of the most influential Latinas in Hollywood. She is the most beautiful women in history.14. Emily RatajkowskigettyimagesDate of Birth: June 7, 1991Place of Birth: Westminster, London, EnglandHeight: 1.70 mProfession: Actress, modelEmily Ratajkowski began her career at the age of 14 when she did teen print catalog modeling for Nordstrom and Kohl’s. She made her professional runway modeling debut with Marc Jacobs at New York Fashion Week in 2015 and has since walked on the Paris Fashion Week runway and for some of the biggest designer houses in the world.15. Jourdan DunngettyimagesDate of Birth: August 3, 1990Place of Birth: Greenford, United KingdomHeight: 1.8 mProfession: ModelAwards and Achievements: Glamour Award for Inspiration, Glamour Award for EntrepreneurJourdan Dunn was discovered by the legendary agency Storm Model who also discovered Kate Moss in the past. Ever since, Dunn has taken the fashion world by a storm and has been unstoppable. She has walked the ramp for nearly every top designer in the world. She is considered to be one of this generation’s supermodels.16. Emilia ClarkegettyimagesDate of Birth: October 23, 1986Place of Birth: London, United KingdomHeight: 1.57 mProfession: ActressAwards and Achievements: She won the Scream Award for Female Breakthrough Performance, SFX Award for Best Actress among her other achievements.This beautiful woman rose to prominence through her role on the hit HBO Fantasy series Game of Thrones. Her character ‘Danaerys Targaryen’ aka ‘Khaleesi’ gained immense popularity all over the world. In November 2016 she was cast as the female lead in the upcoming Star Wars Han Solo Anthology Film.17. Mahira KhangettyimagesDate of Birth: December 21, 1984Place of Birth: Karachi, PakistanHeight: 1.7 mProfession: ActressAwards and Achievements: She won several Awards for her performances in various TV shows of PakistanMahira Khan is one of Pakistan’s most popular and highest-paid actresses. She made her debut alongside Atif Aslam in a hit romance Bol. She started her career as a VJ in 2006 and rose to prominence with her role in the hit TV show Humsafar. She also played the lead role in her first Bollywood film ‘Raees’ alongside Shah Rukh Khan.18. Rachel McAdamsgettyimagesDate of Birth: November 17, 1978Place of Birth: London, CanadaHeight: 1.63 mProfession: ActressAwards and Achievements: She won the Screen Actors Guild Award, Teen Choice Award, MTV Movie Awards for Best Breakthrough performance among othersThe prettiest women in the world Rachel McAdams portrayed the character of Allie in The Notebook and stole our hearts. She went to college and studied Theatre and initially worked in Canadian television and film productions. Some of her famous movies include Mean Girls, Spotlight The Time Traveler’s Wife, Wedding Crashers and The Family Stone among various others.19. Anne HathawaygettyimagesDate of Birth: November 12, 1982Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York, United StatesHeight: 1.73 mProfession: ActressAwards and Achievements: She won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for her performance in Les Miserables, BAFTA Award, Teen Choice Awards among othersAnne Hathaway’s first major breakthrough role was of Mia Thermapolis in The Princess Diaries. She has also received praise and recognition for her performance in movies like The Devil Wears Prada, Love and Other Drugs, Rachel Getting Married and many others. She also played Catwoman in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises.20. Lana Del ReygettyimagesDate of Birth: June 21, 1985Place of Birth: New York, United StatesHeight: 1.7 mProfession: Singer-songwriterAwards and Achievements: She has won several awards for her music including the Brit Award in 2012 for International Breakthrough Act. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original SongElizabeth Woolridge Grant goes by the shiny stage name ‘Lana Del Rey’. She will remind you of another decade that passed by, perhaps the 80s? She has made the world a better place with her retro vibe, unique voice and music that stands out so beautifully. Two of her biggest musical influences are poles apart – Kurt Cobain and Britney Spears. She is one of the most beautiful girls in the world.21. RihannagettyimagesDate of Birth: February 20, 1988Place of Birth: Saint Michael Parish, BarbadosHeight: 1.73 mProfession: SingerAwards and Achievements: She won several Grammy’s, MTV Video Music Awards and othersRiri is undoubtedly one of the most famous celebrities in the world. She first entered the music industry by recording demo tapes. At 16, she auditioned for Jay-Z, the president of Def Jam records, and he signed her on. Today, her total net worth is over a $90 million. She is the most subscribed to artist on Vevo, has the most views with just over 4.6 billion views22. Lupita Nyong’ogettyimagesDate of Birth: March 1, 1983Place of Birth: MexicoHeight: 1.65 mProfession: ActressAwards and Achievements: She is the first Kenyan and Mexican actress to receive an Academy AwardLupita Nyong’o is a Kenyan-Mexican actress who made her acting debut in the short film East River. She wrote, produced and directed the documentary In My Genes. She had her first feature film role in the movie 12 Years a Slave that got her wide recognition.23. Cobie SmuldersgettyimagesDate of Birth: April 3, 1982Place of Birth: Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaHeight: 1.73 mProfession: ActressSmulders is best known for role as Robin Scherbatsky on the hit televsion show How I Met Your Mother and as Maria Hill in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Cobie is also fluent in French. She has won hearts all over with her lovely smile and how perfectly she played “Robin”.24. Mila KunisgettyimagesDate of Birth: August 14, 1983Place of Birth: Chernivsti, UkraineHeight: 1.63 mProfession: ActressAwards and Achievements: She was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for the film ‘Black Swan’At the age of seven, Mila Kunis and her family moved from Ukraine to Los Angeles. She was enrolled in acting classes as an after-school activity, it was then that she was discovered by an agent. At fifteen, as her first major role, she played Jackie Burkhart in the TV series – That ‘70s Show. She has also voiced Meg Griffin since 1999 in the animated series – Family Guy. She’s an adventure junkie and loves sky diving.25. Raniah Al AbdullahgettyimagesDate of Birth: August 30, 1970Place of Birth: KuwaitHeight: 1.79 mProfession: QueenRaniah Al Abdullah is the world most beautiful woman and also queen consort of Jordan. Since she married the now king of Jordan, she is recognized for her advocacy work related to education, health cross-cultural dialouge, youth and the overall empowerment of the community. This powerful woman is known for her allure and impeccable sense of style.26. Anastasia LuppovaDate of Birth: June 26, 1985Place of Birth: Kazan, RussiaProfession: Billiards playerAwards and Achievements: She won the 2009 Miss Billiards competitionThis gorgeous beauty is a billiards player who is the two-time European champion is Russian Pyramid. She has now mastered the game and is a successful coach.27. Nina DobrevgettyimagesDate of Birth: January 9, 1989Place of Birth: Sofia, BulgariaHeight: 1.7 mProfession: ActressAwards and Achievements: She has won consistent People’s Choice and Teen Choice Awards for her lead role in the hit show The Vampire DiariesA lot of struggling actors wish to be discovered by somebody big and Nina actually was! An agent discovered her while she was studying at the Armstrong Acting Studio in Toronto. The Bulgarian-Canadian actress played ‘Elena Gilbert’ on the supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries and instantly went sensational all over the world. She has also worked in other feature films like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Final Girls and xXx: Return of Xander Cage.28. Irina ShaykgettyimagesDate of Birth: January 6, 1986Place of Birth: Yemanzhelinsk, RussiaHeight: 1.78 mProfession: ModelIrina Shayk gained immense popularity when she became the exclusive face of Intimissimi lingerie. She has walked the runway for brands like Marc Jacobs, Versace, Givenchy and Bottega among many others. In October 2015, she became the new Loreal Paris International Spokesperson. She also made her acting debut alongside Dwayne Johnson in the 2014 film – Hercules.29. Sobhita DhulipalagettyimagesDate of Birth: May 31, 1992Place of Birth: Tenali, IndiaHeight: 1.75 mProfession: Actress, modelSobhita Dhulipala was placed second at the Femina Miss India 2013 pageant and represented India at Miss Earth 2013. She started off her career with modeling and later moved on to acting. She gained a ton of fame and recognition for her lead role in Amazon’s drama series Made In Heaven.30. Jameela JamilgettyimagesDate of Birth: February 25, 1986Place of Birth: London, EnglandHeight: 1.79 mProfession: Presenter, actressJameela Jamil began her career as an English teacher before becoming a presenter on T4. She was also the first solo female presenter on the BBC Radio 1 Chart Show. At present, Jamil plays the role of Tahani on the American television series The Good Place, which has received critical acclaim and was nominated for a Golden Globe. She is also a vocal body positivity activist.31. Keira KnightleygettyimagesDate of Birth: March 26, 1985Place of Birth: Teddington, United KingdomHeight: 1.7 mProfession: ActressAwards and Achievements: She has won the Empire Hero Award, The Teen Choice Award and various People’s Choice AwardsKnightley has been nominated for an Academy and a Golden Globe Award. She began acting at a young age and made her film debut in 1995. She gained international recognition through her 2002 film ‘Bend it like Beckham’. Her performance was beautiful in the period drama Pride and Prejudice. Some of her best known roles include Pirates of the Caribbean. Her other talents include ballet, drawing and playing instruments like the guitar and the flute.32. Allison WilliamsgettyimagesDate of Birth: April 13, 1988Place of Birth: Connecticut, United StatesHeight: 1.67 mProfession: ActressAwards and Achievements: She has been nominated for several awards such as the MTV Movie and TV AwardsHave you watched the HBO series Girls, yet? Allison Williams plays the character of ‘Marnie Michaels’ and she does a brilliant job at it. She graduated from Yale in 2010, with an English degree. She says she wanted to be an actress even before she understood anything else about her life. She has a deep sense of intellectual curiosity and she never wants to stop learning. She is also known to be a comedian and singer, alongside her acting career.33. Miranda KerrgettyimagesDate of Birth: April 20, 1983Place of Birth: Sydney, AustraliaHeight: 1.75 mProfession: ModelMiranda Kerr rose to prominence in 2007 as one of Victoria’s Secret Angels. She was the first Australian Victoria’s Secret model. She began modelling at the age of thirteen and also won the 1997 Dolly Magazine model search competition. According to Forbes, she is the second highest paid model in the world in the year 2013. In 2010, she also wrote a book called ‘Treasure Yourself – Power Thoughts for my Generation.’34. Alexandra DaddariogettyimagesDate of Birth: March 16, 1986Place of Birth: Manhattan, New York, U.S.Height: 1.73 mProfession: ActressAchievements and Awards: She has been nominated for several awards including the MTV Movie Awards and Teen Choice AwardsWe can’t stop gushing over her beautiful eyes, can we? Alexandra Daddario is best known for her role in the Percy Jackson film series. She has English, Italian, Irish and Czech ancestry. She has also guest-starred in series such as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, True Detective, American Horror Story: Hotel among several others. She is also known for her role in the recent Baywatch movie.35. Cate BlanchettgettyimagesDate of Birth: May 14, 1969Place of Birth: Ivanhoe, Victoria, AustraliaHeight: 1.74 mProfession: Actress, theatre directorCate Blanchett has received many accolades, including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and three BAFTA Awards. Time Magazine also named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2007, and in 2018, she was ranked among the highest-paid actresses in the world.36. Jennifer LawrencegettyimagesDate of Birth: August 15, 1990Place of Birth: Indian Hills, Kentucky, United StatesHeight: 1.75 mProfession: ActressAchievements & Awards: She has won an Academy Award for her performance in Silver Linings PlaybookJennifer Shrader Lawrence is not only an Oscar-winning actress but she’s also really funny and down-to-earth. According to Forbes, she is the youngest on the list of World’s Highest Paid Actresses. In 2013, she also appeared on Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world. The Hunger Games series, Silver Linings Playbook, X-men series, Passengers are some of her most popular films. She was told that she “was too pretty” to play the lead role in Winter’s Bone, so she hopped a red-eye to New York, walked in snow for 13 blocks and finally auditioned in hair that she hadn’t washed in a week. She landed the part and also received her first Oscar nomination for it. Talk about determination!37. Zoe KravitzgettyimagesDate of Birth: December 1, 1988Place of Birth: Venice, Los Angeles, California, U.SHeight: 1.57 mProfession: Actress, model, singerAchievements & Awards: She has been nominated for several awards that include Teen Choice and Black Reel AwardsZoe Kravitz comes from a mixed heritage. She is the daughter of musician Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet. She has also worked in movies like The Divergent series, No Reservations and Mad Max. She is also the lead vocalist for the band Elevator Fight.38. Marion CotillardgettyimagesDate of Birth: September 30, 1975Place of Birth: Paris, FranceHeight: 1.69 mProfession: ActressAchievements & Awards: She has won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in La Vie En Rose (2008)The French actress made her acting debut as a child in a role for one of her father’s plays. She studied drama at the Conservatoire d’Art Dramatique in Orléans. After small appearances and performances in theater, Cotillard had occasional and minor roles in TV shows, but her career as a film actress began in the mid-1990s. She always believed that she would be a singer and that she became an actress by fluke.39. Amanda SeyfriedgettyimagesDate of Birth: December 3, 1985Place of Birth: Pennsylvania, United StatesHeight: 1.59 mProfession: Actress, Singer, Song-writerAchievements & Awards: She has received numerous accolades from People’s magazine and won several awards for her acting in films like Les MiserablesSeyfried made her movie debut in the 2004 teen comedy Mean Girls. She started her modeling career at the young age of eleven and her acting career at fifteen. She has worked in movies such as Dear John, Les Miserables and Mamma Mia! This gorgeous lady is a hard core animal lover at heart and has a beautiful dog named Finn.40. Adriana LimagettyimagesDate of Birth: June 12, 1981Place of Birth: Salvador, Bahia, BrazilHeight: 1.78 mProfession: ModelAdriana Lima is a Brazilian actress and model. She is known for being one of the most popular Victoria’s Secret angels since 2000. She has walked on endless high-fashion runways and is near the top of Forbes’ list. She is one among the highest-earning beautiful women models. She has an estimated net worth of over $65 million41. Nathalie EmmanuelgettyimagesDate of Birth: March 2, 1989Place of Birth: Southend-on-sea, United KingdomHeight: 1.7 mProfession: ActressAchievements & Awards: Screen Nation award for Best Female Performance in FilmShe is known for her role as Missandei in the HBO fantasy series ‘Game of Thrones’. She has also appeared in The Maze runner and Fast and Furious 7.42. Taylor HillgettyimagesDate of Birth: March 5, 1996Place of Birth: Palatine, Illinois, United StatesHeight: 1.77 mProfession: ModelTaylor Hill is an American supermodel and a Victoria’s Secret Angel since 2015. This 23-year-old has modeled for designers like Michael Kors and Versace. She is among the top paid models in the world with a net worth of $6 million.43. Kristen StewartgettyimagesDate of Birth: April 9, 1990Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, U.SHeight: 1.65 mProfession: ActressAchievements & Awards: She has received several awards including a Cesar award, a Milano Film Festival award, BAFTA Rising Star Award among othersKristen Stewart begun her acting career in 1999. The uber-cool actress has done some incredible work in movies like Clouds of Sils Maria, Still Alice and Personal Shopper, after she finished the Twilight Saga movies. She was listed as one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood in 2010. She is also the face of fashion brands like Chanel. She plays the acoustic and electric guitar as well as the trumpet. Although she loves acting, she has said that she is not so interested in being a “Hollywood Star”. To her, it’s more of a job.44. Zooey DeschanelgettyimagesDate of Birth: January 17, 1980Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, U.SHeight: 1.68 mProfession: Actress, Singer, SongwriterAwards and Achievements: She has been nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Actress in Comedy on TVKnown for her distinct blue eyes and her role as the heart-breaker in the 2009 rom-com 500 Days of Summer, Deschanel is multi-talented. She plays the role of Jessica Day on the hit comedy series ‘New Girl’ quite brilliantly. She is also the producer of the same. Although she’s an incredible actress, Zooey says that her favorite thing to do is writing music.45. Shay MitchellgettyimagesDate of Birth: April 10, 1987Place of Birth: Mississauga, CanadaHeight: 1.71 mProfession: Actress, model, entrepreneurShannon Ashley Mitchell is a Canadian actress, model, author, and entrepreneur. Shay is half Filipino and half Irish. She is best known for her role as Emily Fields in the popular TV series Pretty Little Liars. She got the nickname Shay as she’s a fan of Jennifer Lopez a.k.a J.Lo. She wanted to pursue acting from a very young age.46. Natalie PortmangettyimagesDate of Birth: June 9, 1981Place of Birth: Jerusalem, IsraelHeight: 1.6 mProfession: ActressAchievements & Awards: She won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Outstanding Performance for her Lead Role in Black Swan (2011)She broke the spell and became the first person born in the 80s to have won an Academy Award for Best Actress. She starred in Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace while still in high school. Portman enrolled at Harvard University to study Psychology, alongside her work as an actress. She is known for her extraordinary acting skills in films like V for Vendetta, Black Swan, and others. Her advice to young grads goes like this – “Your inexperience is an asset in that it will make you think in original, unconventional ways. Accept your lack of knowledge and use it as your asset.”47. Nazanin BoniadigettyimagesDate of Birth: May 22, 1980Place of Birth: Tehran, IranHeight: 1.62 mProfession: ActressAchievements & Awards: She was nominated for a 2008 NAACP Image Award for her role on the popular American soap opera, General Hospital.She is an Iranian born British-American Actress. She was born during the height of the Iranian revolution and so her parents relocated to London, shortly after. She changed her career path from Science to pursuing acting in 2006. She has appeared in TV shows like General Hospital, How I met your Mother, Scandal and Homeland and in movies like Iron Man and The Next Three Days. She also portrayed the character of Esther in the 2016 remake of Ben-Hur.48. Penelope CruzgettyimagesDate of Birth: April 28, 1974Place of Birth: Alcobendas, SpainHeight: 1.68 mProfession: Model, ActressAchievements & Awards: She won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Vicky Cristina BarcelonaCruz studied classical ballet for nine years and was signed by an agent at just 15. She has modeled for Loreal, Ralph Lauren, and Mango among other big brands. Some of her works include movies like Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Vanilla Sky, All the Pretty Horses, Gothika and others. She also volunteered in India and Uganda, working with Mother Teresa.49. Emma StonegettyimagesDate of Birth: November 6, 1988Place of Birth: Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.AHeight: 1.68 mProfession: ActressAchievements & Awards: Won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for her performance as a lead actress in La La Land (2016); She has also won a BAFTA and three Screen Actor Guild AwardsEmily Jean Stone a.k.a. Emma Stone is one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood. She gradually climbed the ladder of success and is known for her incredible performances in movies like La La Land, Birdman, The Amazing Spiderman, Easy A, and many others. According to her, the best piece of advice that she has ever received was to “stay irrepressibly true to yourself and be tenacious about finding ways to manifest the truest form of you.”Now, isn’t that some truly profound advice?50. Margot RobbiegettyimagesDate of Birth: July 2, 1990Place of Birth: Dalby, AustraliaHeight: 1.68 mProfession: ActressAchievements & Awards: Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Actress in an Action Movie 2016The Australian Actress initially appeared in Australian indie films in the late 2000s. She got her first, big break in Hollywood in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street. In 2016, she portrayed the maniacal character of Harley Quinn in the superhero film Suicide Squad and she also appeared as Jane in The Legend of Tarzan, in the same year. She dislikes that some people have labeled her as a “bombshell”. She does not want to be reduced to the cliche that comes with it.51. Jessica JunggettyimagesDate of Birth: April 18, 1989Place of Birth: San Francisco, CaliforniaHeight: 1.63 mProfession: Singer, Actress, Fashion Designer, BusinesswomanAchievements and Awards: She has received several Asian awards and accolades such as the Yahoo Asia Buzz Award for Asian Popularity and several others.The multi-talented Jessica Jung currently based in South Korea was born and raised in California. When she was discovered by a South Korean Entertainment Agency, at the age of eleven, she subsequently moved to South Korea. She debuted in 2007 as a member of a South Korean Girl Group called ‘Girl Generation’, and they went on to become one of the best-selling artists of the country. She also portrayed Elle Woods in the Korean-language version of Legally Blonde.All these wonderful women have one thing in common – they have been so passionate, determined and hardworking in order to excel in their fields. They have all left their mark through their talent and beauty and each one of them is special in their own way. We hope you find inspiration from these strong women who have brought their fame to a world-level through their work.Oh and don’t forget – you all have a Wonder Woman inside u!Thanks for reading.

APJ Abdul Kalam: Unparalleled Genius and Spiritual TechnocratDr. Abdul Kalam died on July 27, 2015, at Shillong, after he lost consciousness while delivering a lecture. He was 83. He was buried at Rameshwaram with full state honours and Islamic rites. The funeral was attended by an ocean of people. This demonstrated a kind of love and adulation he had in the hearts of the people, which is unparalleled in recent history. He truly proved to be Peoples’ President, loved by all and hated by none.It is the policy of the worldmuslimpedia to publish biographies of only living Muslim greats. However, as a tribute to Late Abdul Kalam, his biography will continue to appear for one year.Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was an Indian scientist and administrator who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007.AP. J. Abdul KalamFormer President of IndiaAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was an Indian scientist and administrator who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007Born: October 15, 1931 (age 83), RameswaramFull name: Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul KalamAwards: Bharat Ratna, moreParents: Ashiamma Jainulabiddin, Jainulabiddin MarakayarEducation: Madras Institute of Technology(1955–1960), St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli (1954)The romance of Dr APJ Kalam's ascending is indeed contemporary India's best fairy tale material. His story reads like the Indian version of Abraham Lincoln's from –log-house-to-Whitehouse saga. What makes this story especially delightful is the tribute and salute offered to his talent and contribution by the ever-shifting never trusted politicians of India. Dr Kalam epitomizes the “spiritual technocrat” and his elevation to Rashtrapati Bhavan is testimony to the universal admiration we have for spotless integrity in modern times, despite the corruption enveloping our lives. His life story is an allegory of the glory of unwavering sincerity, faith and devotion to great values of life.A simple, devout and disciplined boat owner's son, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was born in 1931into a middle class family in Rameswaram. He learnt his first great lessons in the school of his father’s daily routine and faith. He himself pays homage to his father’s simple and great life.” I have throughout my life tried to emulate my father in my world of science and technology,” says Dr Kalam, "I have endeavored to understand the fundamental truths revealed to me by my father, and feel convinced that there exists a divine power that can lift one from confusion, misery, melancholy and failure, and guide one to one’s true place."This training has defined Dr Kalam's life. Before reaching the top he had his share of failures; but his faith made him turn every failure into a teacher. In his career he went up the ladder defeating his failures, which generally defeat a man without a faith. Starting a senior Scientific Assistant at the DTP (Air).He moved on to INCOSPAR as a rocket engineer, and then to NASA. On his return from NASA, he was first involved in India’s first rocket launch in 1963.Later he was handpicked by the great Dr Vikram Sarabhai and was chosen to be a project leader. To him was entrusted the job of designing the fourth stage of India 's satellite launch vehicle(SLV).How Dr Kalam learnt to cope with surmount failures is amply testified by the incident of SLV3 failure. He remembers the failed attempt not as a depressing defeat but as an incident which became an opportunity to learn great lesson. He recalls the lesson he received from his mentor, Dr Brahm Prakash, “To live only for some unknown future is superficial. It is like climbing a mountain to reach the peak without experiencing its sides. The sides of the mountain sustain life, not the peak. This is where things grow, experience is gained, and technologies are measured. The importance of the peak lies only in the fact that it defines the sides. So I went on towards the top, but always experiencing the sides. I had a long way to go but I was no in hurry. I went in little steps-just one step after another-but each step towards the top."The lesson was indeed learnt well in July 1980 India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV3) was successfully launched, and with this launch India joined the club of countries having satellite launch capability.It is customary to state that India’s rocketry and missile programme took grant strides under Dr Kalam's Supervision. India’s space odyssey had its great Odysseus in Dr Kalam. He is to a great extent, responsible for making India a missile power, and gave Indian defense forces formidable weaponry. As a defense scientist he was chiefly responsible for developing India's defense arsenal by producing missiles Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Trishul and Nag. He is also credited with guiding India to the status of a Nuclear Power.Dr Kalam has been honored by his countrymen, befitting his contribution and stature, the greatest civilian honor, the Bharat-Ratan, and the highest Indian office in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. But he is remembered today as one who turns his audience into a class of inquisitive students, wherever he goes. It was on several occasions a great sight, never seen before, when the Indian President addressed his audience and invited people to ask him questions. He would receive a great response and then answer the questions in the fashion of a professor explaining some equations to his students. This image will abide in the minds of all Indians.A gifted visionary, Dr Kalam has prepared a roadmap for the India of 21st century. His vision 2020 projects India as a superpower, an economic giant and a great nation of modern times. His faith in India's great future has given all Indians a true reason to smile with hope, confidence and pride. He is today India's most respected, popular and most trusted man and fascinates all as one whose life is equally colored by spirituality and atomic energy, by missile technology and the vina (a musical instrument) by science and poetry, by queries and faith.It is interesting to learn that the man whose life is devoted to science and technology finds his philosophy of life in the Holy Quran, the Divine life and the works of Khalil Gibran.1. ProfileHis own website describes his profile as follows:Born on 15th October 1931 at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, specialized in Aeronautical Engineering from Madras Institute of Technology. Dr. Kalam made significant contribution as Project Director to develop India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) which successfully injected the Rohini satellite in the near earth orbit in July 1980 and made India an exclusive member of Space Club. He was responsible for the evolution of ISRO's launch vehicle programme, particularly the PSLV configuration. After working for two decades in ISRO and mastering launch vehicle technologies, Dr. Kalam took up the responsibility of developing Indigenous Guided Missiles at Defence Research and Development Organization as the Chief Executive of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).MAULANA SAALIM QASMIMaulana Muhammad Salim Qasmi: Distinguished, Respected and Accomplished Theologian, Islamic Scholar and Guide ​Maulana Muhammad Salim Qasmi is surely one of the most distinguished theologians,…Read moreHe was responsible for the development and operationalization of AGNI and PRITHVI Missiles and for building indigenous capability in critical technologies through networking of multiple institutions. He was the Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister and Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development from July 1992 to December 1999. During this period he led to the weaponisation of strategic missile systems and the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in collaboration with Department of Atomic Energy, which made India a nuclear weapon State. He also gave thrust to self-reliance in defense systems by progressing multiple development tasks and mission projects such as Light Combat Aircraft.As Chairman of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) and as an eminent scientist, he led the country with the help of 500 experts to arrive at Technology Vision 2020 giving a road map for transforming India from the present developing status to a developed nation. Dr. Kalam has served as the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, in the rank of Cabinet Minister, from November 1999 to November 2001 and was responsible for evolving policies, strategies and missions for many development applications. Dr. Kalam was also the Chairman, Ex-officio, of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet (SAC-C) and piloted India Millennium Mission 2020.BornAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam15 October 1931 (age 83)Rameswaram,Ramanathapuram District,ChennaiPresidency, British India(now in Tamil Nadu, India)NationalityIndianAlma materSt Joseph's College, TiruchirapalliMadras Institute of TechnologyProfessionProfessor, author, scientist, presidentAerospace engineerReligionIslamWebsiteabdulkalam.com2. Awards, Titles and Honours1981Padma BhushanGovernment of India1990Padma VibhushanGovernment of India1994Distinguished FellowInstitute of Directors (India)1997Bharat RatnaGovernment of India1997Indira Gandhi Award for National IntegrationIndian National Congress1998Veer Savarkar AwardGovernment of India2000Ramanujan AwardAlwars Research Centre, Chennai2007Honorary Doctorate of ScienceUniversity of Wolver Hampton, UK2007King Charles II MedalRoyal Society, UK2008Doctor of Engineering (Honoris Causa)Nanyang Techl University, Singapore2009International von Kármán Wings AwardCalifornia Institute of Tech, USA2009Hoover MedalASME Foundation, USA2009Honorary DoctorateOakland University2010Doctor of EngineeringUniversity of Waterloo2011IEEE Honorary MembershipIEEE2012Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa)Simon Fraser University2014Doctor of ScienceEdinburgh University3. Kalam's WritingsDevelopments in Fluid Mechanics and Space Technology by A P J Abdul Kalam and Roddam Narasimha; Indian Academy of Sciences, 1988India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium by A P J Abdul Kalam, Y S Rajan; New York, 1998.Wings of Fire: An Autobiography by A P J Abdul Kalam, Arun Tiwari; Universities Press, 1999.Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India by A P J Abdul Kalam; Viking, 2002.The Luminous Sparks by A P J Abdul Kalam, by; Punya Publishing Pvt Ltd, 2004.Mission India by A P J Abdul Kalam, Paintings by Manav Gupta; Penguin Books, 2005Inspiring Thoughts by A P J Abdul Kalam; Rajpal & Sons, 2007Indomitable Spirit by A P J Abdul Kalam; Rajpal and Sons PublishingEnvisioning an Empowered Nation by A P J Abdul Kalam with A Sivathanu Pillai; Tata McGraw-Hill, New DelhiYou Are Born To Blossom: Take My Journey Beyond by A P J Abdul Kalam and Arun Tiwari; Ocean Books, 2011Turning Points: A journey through challenges by A P J Abdul Kalam; Harper Collins India, 2012.Target 3 Billion" by A P J Abdul Kalam and Srijan Pal Singh; December 2011 | Publisher Penguin Books.My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions by A P J Abdul Kalam; August 2013 by the Rupa Publication.A Manifesto for Change: A Sequel to India 2020 by A P J Abdul Kalam and V Ponraj; July 2014 by Harper Collins.4. BiographiesEternal Quest: Life and Times of Dr Kalam by S Chandra; Pentagon Publishers, 2002.President A P J Abdul Kalam by R K Pruthi; Anmol Publications, 2002.A P J Abdul Kalam: The Visionary of India by K Bhushan, G Katyal; A P H Pub Corp, 2002.A Little Dream (documentary film) by P. Dhanapal; Minveli Media Works Private Limited, 2008.The Kalam Effect: My Years with the President by P M Nair; Harper Collins, 2008.My Days with Mahatma Abdul Kalam by Fr A K George; Novel Corporation, 2009.(Source: Wikipedia)5. Vision 2020 Missions5.1 Vision for the NationVision 2020 for Passenger AircraftEvolution of India Vision 2020National Missions and opportunitiesIntegrated actions for developmentRegional development leads to the bestAmbience In The Nation 2007Economic development: Transforming India into a developed nationGrowth Competitive IndexGlobal Human Resource cadreNational Prosperity IndexPossible Ambience in 2020Distinctive Profile of India 20205.2 Innovation and India’s Role in the Knowledge EconomyJun 25 2008Dear friends, let me share with you "Innovation ecosystem to empower Indian innovations". I will discuss about few instances of Indian innovations.Innovation in IT: We all know about the recent rise of India’s IT sector. Today the IT sector employs more than 2 million persons and contributes roughly 25% of India’s exports. The IT sector also contributes around 4% to India’s GDP. When you consider that the IT sector employs just 0.2% of the population, you can see that the IT sector is contributing many times its share to the Indian economy. Indeed it is not wrong to say that the IT sector, perhaps single-handedly, changed the world’s perception about India. IT is not the only area where India is innovative.Innovation in Consumer items: The sachet of shampoo that costs just Rs. 2, or about five cents! Imagine producing something for five cents that includes not just the aluminum for the sachet, but also its contents, not to mention the cost of distribution. Yet these sachets can be found everywhere in India.Innovation in Cell phone Business model: Today villagers are all speaking on cell phone. India has the cheapest telephone rates in the world, for both land lines as well as cell phones. India also has the fastest growing telecom market in the world, adding roughly eight million cell phones every month! This amazing growth has been made possible because the Indian cell phone service providers have a number of innovative business models, such as free incoming calls, prepaid calling cards, etc. We should remember that innovation in business models is also innovation!Innovation in healthcare: Next innovation let me focus on the "Jaipur foot," which was originally made for about $ 28, by itself a very low price. But the DRDO applied its technical competence to the problem, and designed a still lighter and more durable foot called FRO using carbon-composite material. The Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad also developed a very low-cost "stent" that brought down the price of stents by more than 90% to the Indian consumers. Similarly, the cost of a heart bypass surgery in India is just about $ 3? 5K, compared to more than $ 50K abroad.Innovation in Election system: India’s democratic society also benefits from Indian innovation. We see here an Electronic Voting Machine used in our elections. Foreigners are often surprised to find out that in Indian elections, 100% of the voting is through EVMs. In recent times doubts have been raised about the reliability of the software used in electronic voting machines in some other countries. Our EVMs are based on push button technology (rather than touch screen technology) which makes them absolutely tamper-proof. Moreover, it is also possible to have a "recount" in the case of close contests, without any difficulty. In some regions, Election Commission carrying EVMs on elephant back particularly in Northeastern area is by itself an innovation in transportation.Innovation in Nuclear Science: On 11 May 2008, I was with the members of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) on the occasion of the National Technology Day celebrations-2008 and distributed the DAE Awards-2006. I have seen 400 scientists who have shown excellent performance in Science, Engineering and Technology in Department of Atomic Energy. Their innovations in the nuclear science and technology will have tremendous potential; I would like to particularly mention a few, such asCarbide fuel processing in the nuclear Fast reactors at IGCAR, DAE;reduced use of uranium to attain the same level of performance in power generation by DAEIndigenous design and development of an unique variable low energy positron beam system to enable depth-resolved defect studies at surfaces and interfaces of materials;BHABHA-TRON? the first indigenous tele-cobalt machine;design and development of optically pumped infrared molecular gas lasers producing output at 16 micron for molecular uranium isotope separation are some the innovative research which I have witnessed.Innovation in other Science and Technology departments: Dear friends, our scientists in multiple scientific departments have worked for self-reliance and have succeeded. Some of the innovative examples such asa. Making the cryogenic engine; Successful launch of 10 satellites in one go and Successful Satellite Recovery Experiment by ISRO;b. Anti-Ballistic Missile System and Indigenous Ring Laser Gyro based INS with high impact accuracy in Agni-III by DRDOc. Flight control system for LCA by ADAAre some of the innovative achievements which stand today as witness to Indian innovations in science and technology?Innovation in Rural transformation through Jatropha : Let me now focus at the innovation in rural transformation through Jatropha. Rani-dhera a tribal village in Chhattisgarh state which was steeped in darkness after sun set has been lighted with Jatropha oil drawn straight from the seeds. The villages are paying rupees 20 per light per month. This innovation has been promoted by Department of New and Renewable energy sources in partnership with an NGO. Rani-Dhera is bubbling with activities and per capita income of the village has gone up due to the availability of power and light.One of the unique studies carried out by CSIR through the collaborative effort of over 150 scientists has led to innovation in Genetic mapping of Indian Population.Innovation in Genetic Mapping of Indian Population: Indian Statistical institute, Kolkata and anthropologists from various institutes of India, and the Centre for Genomic Applications, Delhi, has generated genetic information on over 4000 genetic markers from over 1000 bio-medically important and Pharmaco-genetically relevant genes in reference populations encompassing diversity of populations from across the country. This study has resulted in clear genetic profile of our populations, explicitly indicating that there is a strong association between genetic and linguistic profiles in India and that there are significant genetic differences in the frequencies of disease-associated genetic markers. For example, this study has revealed that a known protective genetic marker against HIV-1 is virtually absent in India, implying the absence of natural or genetic protection against HIV-AIDS in our country.Similarly friends, the industry and service sectors have shown marked growth and our economy is in the ascent phase right from 2003. All this clearly shows that the country’s landmark decision to become a nuclear weapon state has given strength to the nation. The confidence in the country has increased the spirit that "We can do it". India has always risen to the occasion when we are constrained, the technological sanction after 1998 has not deterred our progress but has strengthened the minds of every Indian to become self-reliant in critical technologies. We should understand our own strength first in the scientific and technological achievements that we have made so far and give confidence and encouragement to the scientists who are working towards making the nation proud.So can we ask: What drives innovation in India? India has a unique blend of ingredients. We have a shortage of capital, so we have to be very innovative to stretch our limited capital. By and large, the general perception is that the government agencies are not able to deliver citizen services effectively, at any level, be it national, state, or regional. But fortunately, we have had democracy, so that individual citizens have been free to evolve local solutions for local problems. Until now our local innovations have not been able to spread outside India excepting in certain sectors such as pharmaceutical, Banking, IT Enabled Services, Software and Automobiles and recently the nano car. Now is the time, for all of us to work together to make Indian innovation to become globalized and have a worldwide impact.By, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalamwww.abdulkalam.com6. Speeches / LecturesRecent1667.Pravaranagar, Loni, Ahmednagar Dist, 05/01/2015 - Address at the Inauguration of Golden Jubilee of Pravara Rural Education Society& Pravara Public School1666.Mumbai, 04/01/2015 - Inauguration of 102nd National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC)1665.IIT Bombay, 04/01/2015 - Address at the Inauguration of the Techfest 20151664.Mumbai, 04/01/2015 - Address at the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations Vani Vidyalaya, Mulund (West)1663.Mumbai , 03/01/2015 - Address at the National Oral Health Care Awards Function Of Indian Dental Association1662.Lucknow, 23/12/2014 - Address and interaction at Manfest-Varchasva Leadership Lecture IIM1661.Lucknow, 23/12/2014 - Address and interaction with the Students of Colvin Taluqdars' College,1660.Bangalore, 19/12/2014 - Address during the Centenary Celebrations of BK Mariyappa’s Charities1659.Bangalore, 19/12/2014 - Address at the Dedication of Swami Chidananda Sevashram1658.Bangalore, 19/12/2014 - Address and interaction with the Students at Science Festa at Christ Academy, Bangalore1657.Chennai, 18/12/2014 - Address during the inauguration of the 10th Chennayil Thiruvaiyaru (Carnatic Music Festival in December)1656.Avadi,, 18/12/2014 - Address at the 5th National Conference on Condition Monitoring CVRDE,1655.Puducherry, 09/12/2014 - Inaugural Address at the NACLIN 2014 National Convention on Knowledge, Library, and Information Networking1654.Sathyabama University, Chennai, 09/12/2014 - Inauguration of Research & Development Centre Sathyabama University1653.Chennai, 08/12/2014 - Address & interaction with Engineers, Technologists, & Staff of Anjanasoft Solutions1652.Madras School of Economics, Chennai, 08/12/2014 - 7th SAGE-MSE Endowment Lecture1651.Pune, 04/12/2014 - Address at Kirloskar Brothers Limited1650.Pune, 04/12/2014 - Address at Innovation Concourse Gabriel India Limited1649.Angul, Odisha, 29/11/2014 - Address to the Students of Angul1648.Sambalpur, 29/11/2014 - Address at the Inauguration of 150th Year Celebrations of Chandra Sekhar Behera Zilla School,1647.Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, 22/11/2014 - Inauguration of State Level 22nd National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC)1646.Allahabad, 21/11/2014 - Address and Interaction with the students of SS Khanna Girls Degree College,1645.Ahmedabad, 19/11/2014 - Address at IGNITE 14 Award Ceremony1644.Lekawada, Gandhinagar, 19/11/2014 - Address at the Chaitanya School1643.Kottayam, 14/11/2014 - Address at the Valedictory Session of the International Book Fair and Science Fest Organized by Kerala State Council for S&T and Kerala State Institute of Language and DC Books1642.Thiruvananthapuram, 14/11/2014 - Address at the Convocation of Govt. Ayurveda College,1641.Kochi, 13/11/2014 - Address at the Presentation of First NKP Ayur Samman to Dr PK Warrier, Chief Physician1640.Beijing, China, 07/11/2014 - Course to Peking University Students on "Sustainable Development System and Creative Leadership" By Dr APJ Abdul Kalam at Peking University1639.Beijing, China, 06/11/2014 - Lecture by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam at College of Urban and Environmental Sciences Peking University, Beijing, China1638.PEKING UNIVERSITY, 05/11/2014 - Conferment of Honorary Professor of PEKING UNIVERSITY1637.Beijing, China, 05/11/2014 - Course to Peking University Students on "Sustainable Development System and Creative Leadership" by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Peking University, Beijing, China1636.Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, New Delhi, 30/10/2014 - Address at the inauguration of Exhibition The Nobel Prize : Ideas Changing the World1635.Gandhi Smriti, New Delhi, 30/10/2014 - Brief Address at the Prayer Meeting In memory of Arutchelvar Dr N Mahalingam1634.Dhaka, Bangladesh, 18/10/2014 - Address at the 110th Anniversary of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry1633.Dhaka, 17/10/2014 - Address and Interaction with participants of Youth Dialogue1632.Shaikpet, Hyderabad, 11/10/2014 - Address and interaction with the students of International School1631.IACP, Hyderabad, 11/10/2014 - Inaugural Address at the First International and The Ninth Annual Conference of Indian Academy of Cerebral Palsy1630.PUSA, New Delhi, 09/10/2014 - Inauguration of Ayurvet Knowledge Symposium 2014 Integrating Agriculture and Livestock for Sustainability1629.Bagar, Rajasthan, 08/10/2014 - Address and interaction with the Headmasters of Schools, Fellows from Various Institutions at Piramal School of Leadership1628.Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, 08/10/2014 - Address and interaction with the Students7. From His DiaryThe environment in the home alternated by happiness and sadness. I used to get up at four in the morning, take bath and went to my teacher Swamiyar for learning mathematics. He will not accept students if they had not taken bath. He was a unique mathematics teacher and he used to take only five students for free tuition in a year. My mother used to get up before me, and gave bath to me and prepared me to go for the tuition. I use to comeback at 5:30 when my father would be waiting for taking me to the Namaz and Koran Sharif learning in Arabic school. After that I used to go to Rameswaram Road Railway station, three kilometers away to collect newspaper. Madras Dhanushkodi Mail will pass through the station but will not stop, since it was war time. The newspaper bundle will be thrown from the running train to the platform.I used to collect the paper and run around the Rameswaram town and be the first one to distribute the newspapers in the town. My elder cousin brother was the agent who went away to Sri Lanka in search of better livelihood. After distribution, I used to come home at 8 AM. My mother will give me a simple breakfast with a special quota compared to other children because I was studying and working simultaneously. After the school gets over in the evening, again I will go around Rameswaran for collection of dues from customers. I still remember an incident which I would like to share with you. As a young boy I was walking, running and studying all together. One day, when all my brothers and sisters were sitting and eating, my mother went on giving me chapattis (even though we are rice eaters only, wheat was rationed). When I finished eating, my elder brother called me privately and scolded "Kalam do you know what was happening? You went on eating Chappati, and mother went on giving you. She has given all her chapattis to you. It is difficult time. Be a responsible son and do not make your mother starve". First time I had a shivering sensation and I could not control myself. I rushed to my mother and hugged her. Even though I was studying in 5th class, I had a special place in my home because I was the last guy in the family. There used to be no electricity. Our house was lit by the kerosene lamp that too between 7 to 9 PM. My mother specially gave me a small kerosene lamp so that I can study up to 11 PM. I still remember my mother in a full moon night which has been portrayed with the title "mother" in my book "Wings of Fire".Mother"I still remember the day when I was ten,Sleeping on your lap to the envy of my elder brothers and sisters.It was full moon night, my world only you knew Mother! My Mother!When at midnight, I woke with tears falling on my kneeYou knew the pain of your child, My Mother.Your caring hands, tenderly removing the painYour love, your care, your faith gave me strength,To face the world without fear and with His strength.We will meet again on the great Judgment Day. My Mother!This is the story of my mother who lived ninety three years, a woman of love, a woman of kindness and above all a woman of divine nature. My mother performed Namaz five times every day. During Namaz, my mother always looked angelic. Every time I saw her during Namaz I was inspired and moved.8. Looking BeyondNational Emergency Service: A VisionEnergy Independence in India - A PerspectiveWorld Knowledge PlatformAmbience in the NationTechnology through AgesResearch ChallengesIntegrated Action for developed IndiaMedia Researche-Courts leading to e-Judiciary - A VisionNetworking of Dental CentersInnovation is the capitalSpace Vision 2050Next Generation BRAHMOSConnectivity for societal transformationIndomitable Spirit9. Kalam QuotesYou have to dream before your dreams can come true.​My message, especially to young people is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, courage to discover the impossible and to conquer the problems and succeed. These are great qualities that they must work towards. This is my message to the young people.Let me define a leader. He must have vision and passion and not be afraid of any problem. Instead, he should know how to defeat it. Most importantly, he must work with integrity.To succeed in your mission, you must have single-minded devotion to your goal.​When we tackle obstacles, we find hidden reserves of courage and resilience we did not know we had. And it is only when we are faced with failure do we realise that these resources were always there within us. We only need to find them and move on with our lives.​The bird is powered by its own life and by its motivation.​Creativity is the key to success in the future, and primary education is where teachers can bring creativity in children at that level.​Let me define a leader. He must have vision and passion and not be afraid of any problem. Instead, he should know how to defeat it. Most importantly, he must work with integrity.​You see, God helps only people who work hard. That principle is very clear.​One of the very important characteristics of a student is to question. Let the students ask questions.​We should not give up and we should not allow the problem to defeat us.Poetry comes from the highest happiness or the deepest sorrow.​We will be remembered only if we give to our younger generation a prosperous and safe India, resulting out of economic prosperity coupled with civilizational heritage.​Educationists should build the capacities of the spirit of inquiry, creativity, entrepreneurial and moral leadership among students and become their role model.​If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.​Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work.​Great dreams of great dreamers are always transcended.​God, our Creator, has stored within our minds and personalities, great potential strength and ability. Prayer helps us tap and develop these powers.​Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow.​Climbing to the top demands strength, whether it is to the top of Mount Everest or to the top of your career.​Man needs his difficulties because they are necessary to enjoy success.​Excellence is a continuous process and not an accident.​The world has today 546 nuclear plants generating electricity. Their experience is being continuously researched, and feedback should be provided to all. Nuclear scientists have to interact with the people of the nation, and academic institutions continuously update nuclear power generation technology and safety.​Life is a difficult game. You can win it only by retaining your birthright to be a person.​Almost half of the population of the world lives in rural regions and mostly in a state of poverty. Such inequalities in human development have been one of the primary reasons for unrest and, in some parts of the world, even violence.​Unless India stands up to the world, no one will respect us. In this world, fear has no place. Only strength respects strength.​Source: A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Quotes - BrainyQuote