In Conversation with Salman Khurshid: Srijan Pal Singh, former advisor to Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

In the latest episode of In Conversation with Salman Khurshid, author, scientist, and former advisor to late Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Srijan Pal Singh, joins former External Affairs Minister of India Salman Khurshid for an insightful discussion.

Reflecting on his years with Dr. Kalam, Srijan shares that the former president never wanted to be remembered solely as the ‘Missile Man’ or the ‘People’s President’; at heart, he always remained a teacher.

He recalls Dr. Kalam’s deep emotional connection with India’s missile program and how he would often joke that his three sons were Prithvi, Agni, and BrahMos.

Srijan also traces the origins of the BrahMos missile, revealing how an abandoned ramjet engine in Russia inspired Dr. Kalam with the idea that eventually led to the development of one of the world’s most advanced missile systems.