A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Indian aerospace scientist and 11th President of India

Kalam in 2002

Born	15 October 1931, Rameswaram, Madras Presidency, British India
Died	27 July 2015 (aged 83), Shillong, Meghalaya, India
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Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (15 October 1931 – 27 July 2015) was an Indian aerospace scientist and politician who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. He was born and raised in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, and studied physics and aerospace engineering. Kalam spent the next four decades as a scientist and science administrator, mainly at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and was intimately involved in India's civilian space program and military missile development efforts. He thus came to be known as the Missile Man of India for his work on the development of ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology.

Early life and education

Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency and now in the state of Tamil Nadu. His father, Jainulabdeen, was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque; his mother, Ashiamma, was a housewife. Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one sister in his family. He was close to his family and had a modest upbringing.

He attended Schwartz Higher Secondary School, Ramanathapuram, and went on to attend St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli, from where he graduated in physics in 1954. He moved to Madras in 1955 to study aerospace engineering in Madras Institute of Technology.

Career as a scientist

After graduating from the Madras Institute of Technology, Kalam joined the Aeronautical Development Establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as a scientist. He started his career by designing a small hovercraft, but remained unconvinced by his choice of a job at DRDO. Kalam was also part of the INCOSPAR committee working under Vikram Sarabhai, the renowned space scientist.

In 1969, Kalam was transferred to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) where he was the project director of India's first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) which successfully deployed the Rohini satellite in near-earth orbit in July 1980; Kalam had first started work on an expandable rocket project independently at DRDO in 1965. In 1969, Kalam received the government's approval and expanded the programme to include more engineers.

Presidency

Kalam served as the 11th President of India, succeeding K. R. Narayanan. He won the 2002 presidential election with an electoral vote of 922,884, surpassing the 107,366 votes won by Lakshmi Sahgal. His term lasted from 25 July 2002 to 25 July 2007. During his term, he was affectionately known as the People's President.

Post-presidency

After leaving office, Kalam became a visiting professor at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, and the Indian Institute of Management Indore, an honorary fellow of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology Thiruvananthapuram, professor of Aerospace Engineering at Anna University, and an adjunct at many other academic and research institutions across India.

Death

On 27 July 2015, Kalam collapsed while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong and died from an apparent cardiac arrest. His death was mourned across the nation, with thousands attending his funeral in his hometown of Rameswaram.

Awards and honors

Kalam received several prestigious awards, including the Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma Bhushan. He was also awarded honorary doctorates from 40 universities.

Legacy

Kalam's work in the field of aerospace engineering and his role as a leader in India's scientific community have left a lasting impact. He is remembered for his humble beginnings, his dedication to education, and his vision for a developed India.

See also

• Missile Man of India
• Indian Space Research Organisation
• Defence Research and Development Organisation
• President of India