The Odisha government has renamed the Wheeler Island in Bhadrak district as Abdul Kalam Island. It should be noted that recently the New Delhi Municipal authorities renamed Aurangzeb Road in New Delhi as APJ Abdul Kalam Road. APJ Abdul Kalam passed away at 83 in Meghalaya. He suffered a massive cardiac arrest.
The Wheeler Island is located approximately 10 kilometres off the Odisha coast on the Bay of Bengal. The Island, which is about 2 kilometres in length and 390 acres, is considered as country’s most advanced missile testing site. Wheeler Island assumes great significance in view of its strategic location. It has been used as the launching pad for India’s missile defence system.
Points to Note
- The island was named after an English commandant Lieutenant Wheeler.
- The first successful land-to-land test of the Prithvi Missile was conducted from the mainland and it landed on the then uninhabited ‘Wheeler Island’ on November 30, 1993.
- The capital, Bhubaneswar, is home to hundreds of temples.
- Odisha was created on 1st April, 1936 during the British Period.
- The foundation day of Odisha, also known as Utkala Dibasa, is celebrated every year on the first day of April.
- The Odishi classical dance form is world famous besides fold dances such as Chhau, Chaiti Ghoda, etc.
- World Famous “Chariot Festival” or “Car Festival” or Ratha Yatra is celebrated in a grand manner.
Test Your Knowledge
Who is the present Chief Minister and Governor of Odisha?
