A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (Fullname: Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam) served as the 11th president of the Republic of India between 2002 and 2007. He was an inspiring teacher, and a narrative author, and a great scientist.
He was born 15th of October 1931 in a Tamil Muslim family. The young Kalam grew up in Rameswaram. His love for mathematics saw him study aerospace engineering and physics.
Career and Major Achievements: He spent nearly forty years as a scientist working at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and later at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
He was involved in the country’s space programme and the development of ballistic missiles for the military as well as the launch vehicle technology.
He is credited for the successful deployment of Rohini satellite through India’s Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) in 1980.
He also played a critical role in India’s 1998 nuclear tests.
Among his various books, ‘Ignited minds’, ‘India 2020’ and ‘Wings of Fire’ are the most celebrated works.
Contribution as India’s President:
He was a youth icon and called the ‘People’s President? since he reached out to all sections of the society.
As president, he signed the Office of Profit Bill into law.
Honors and Awards: APJ Abdul Kalam received several honors and awards including Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna, Doctor of Science from Edinburgh University in the UK, Von Braun Award, and an IEEE Honorary Membership among others.
