president of india .
A.P.J. Abdul kalam (born October 15, 1931 , Rameshwaram , india – died July 27 , 2015 , Shillong ) was an indian scientist and politician who played a leading role in the development of india s missile and nuclear weapons programs. he president of india from 2002 to 2007. his scientific achievement and popularity gained him the epithets missile and people s president .
About
born : 15 october 1931, rameshwaram
died : 27 July 2015 ( age 83 years ) , Shillong
education : madras institute of technology and , anna university ( 1955-1957)
awards : Bharata Ratna , king Charles 2 medal
parents : Jainulabiddin Aarakayar , Ashiamma Janulabiddin .
early life and career
kalam was born in a town in Tamil Nadu state to a fishing boat owner from a once wealthy family. the youngest of five siblings , kalam persevered with his education despite his impoverished circumstances . he earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from the madras institute of technology and in 1958 joined the defence research and development organisation (DRDO) . in 1969 he moved to the indian space research organisation (ISRO). where he was project director of the SLV-3, the first satellite launch vehicle that was both designed and produced in india . in 1980 SLV-3 successfully released a satellite called Rohini into near -earth orbit , taking indian s space program to the international stage. kalam oversaw further development of launch technologies at ISRO , including the polar satellite launch vehicle .
Missile program and nuclear tests
missile program
having rejoined DRDO in 1982, kalam planned the integrated guided missile development program , which produced , a number of successful missiles . among them was agni , india s first intermediate – range ballistic , which incorporated aspects of SLA -33 ; it was first launched in 1989. another success was the surface – to – surface tactical missile prithvi .
Nuclear tests
from 1992 to 1999 kalam was scientific adviser to india s defense minister , and he later served as principal scientific adviser (1999-2001 ) to the government , with the rank of cabinet minister . during this period he played a key role in the government s weaponization of missile systems , giving india nuclear capabilities . in 1998 he was one of the chief coordinators of the pokhran -2 series of nuclear teate . his prominent role in the country s nuclear weapons tests solidified india as a nuclear power and established kalam as a national hero , although the tests cauntrywide plan called community . in 1998 kalam put forward a countrywide plan concern in the international
technology vision 2020, which he described as a road map for transforming india from a less -developed society to a develpment one in 20 years . among other measures , the plan called for increasing agricultural productivity , emphasizing technology as a vehicle for economic growth , and for widening access to health care and education .
Presidency
in 2002 Indians ruling national democratic alliance (NDA ) put forward kalam to succeed outgoing press . kochari Raman Narayanan. kalams stature and popular appeal were such that he was nominated by the Hindu nationalist NDA DESPITE HIS BEING MUSLIM , AND EVEN THE MAIN opposition party , the indian national congress , proposed his candidacy . kalam easily won the vote of the electoral college , defeating former revolutionary leader Lakshmi Sahgal . he was sworn in as indian s 11th president, a largely ceremonial post , in July 2002 . he left office at the end of his term in 2007 and was succeeded by Pratibha Patil , the country s first woman president .
legacy
upon returning to civilian life , kalam remained committed to using science and technology to transform india into a developed country , and he served as a lecturer at a number of university . he was a visiting professor at several campuses of the indian institute of management and the founding chancellor of the indian institute of space science and technology . he had great success in connecting with children and made it a personal mission to meet , interact with , and inspire young minds .
on July 27 , 2025 , kalam collapsed while delivering a lecture at the indian institute oof management Shillong and was pronounced dead from cardiac arrest soon afterword .
kalam wrote several books , including an autobiography , wings of fire , and a book titled ignited minds . among his numerous awards were three of the country s highest honors: the Padma Bhushan(1981) , the Padma Vibhushan (1990), and Bharat ratna(1997) .
a number of roads , buildings , and institution are named for kalam . in 2015 the name of a missile test site in odisha state was changed from wheeler island to abdul kalam island . in 2017 a new species of bacterium found in the international space station was named solibacillus kalamii in his honor .
why is A.P.J Abdul kalam very famous ?
APJ Abdul kalam is famous for his contributions as a scientist and for his role as the people s president pf india . his fame stems from his work developing indian s missile and nuclear programs , which earned him the nickname missile man of india , and his time as president (2002-2007) where his approachable and insuring persona connected deeply with the public .
Did A.P.J . Abdul kalam marry ?
No, A.P.J. Abdul kalam did not marry . he remained a bachelor throughout his life to dedicate his time and energy to his career and work . he once humorously explained that he found rocket science easier to understand than marriage .
what were abdul kalam last words ?
Dr . A.P.J. Abdul kalam s last words were are you doing well ? or all fit ? to his aide , Srijan pal Singh , just before he collapsed during a lecture at llm Shillong in 2015. he also spoken to a guard , thanking them and offering food , showing his characteristic humility and care for other even in his final moments , as reported by the American bazaar and india today .
is abdul kalam a docter ?
yes , A.P.J. Abdul kalam was often called Dr. kalam because he was a renowned scientist who received honorary doctorates from numerous universities , although he was not a medical doctor . he held a degree in aeronautical engineering and was a prominent aerospace scientist who worked on Indians space and missile program .
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