Kalam’s rockets brought Pakistan to its knees in 1971 War

Chennai:

India’s victory in 1971 war could be attributed to the ‘Missile
Man’ of India as it was the rocket designed by his team of Indian
Space Research Organisation scientists that brought Pakistan to its
knees.



Interestingly, the prototype of a rocket pod and twin-barrelled auto
canon used in the MiG-21 combat fighter aircraft that bombed the
Governor's House in Dhaka, a decisive turning point in the war is now
a part of a museum in Army Headquarters in Eastern command in Kolkata.



Recalling his association with Kalam in developing the rockets, that
were indigenously produced, N Sivasubramanian, chief general manager
(retired), Liquid Propulsion System Centre, Indian Space Research
Organisation, said that the rocket which had the capability to travel
100 kilometre had a payload of 3kg.



“The idea was given by Kalam and I produced the instruments
(Gyroscope) needed for the rocket that would provide the direction,
speed and angle,” said Sivasubramnian.



“This was the turning point in the career of abdul Kalam, who was made
a project director for satellite Launch Vehicle.



Sivasubramanian also recalled how the St Mary Magadelene's Church in
Thumba served as the main office for the scientists. The bishop's
house was converted into a workshop. A cattle shed became the
laboratory in which the young Indian scientists worked on the first
sounding rocket.



He said that the building was the place where the idea of India Space
Research orginated and the Missile Man worked on the sounding rockets
from here.



Sivasubramanian said that India was dependent on French technology for
making rockets. “We were building rockets of three inch or 4 inch
using the French technology. It was in 1965-67, we started focussing
on developing our own rockets,” he said.



The veteran scientist said that his career spanning 40 years in Indian
Space Research Organisation, he spent nearly 20 years with Kalam.
Interestingly, the instruments provided by Sivasubramanian for rockets
was also used in developing stents for All India Institute of Medical
Sciences in New Delhi, courtesy Kalam.



His uniqueness is that he tapped the best minds and integrated them to
deliver the goods for the nation. We can’t get such a unique scientist
in future. It is a great loss to the nation, said Sivasubramanian