Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam

Born:

October 15, 1931, Rameswaram, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Tamil Nadu, India)

Died:

July 27, 2015, Shillong, Meghalaya, India

Nationality:

Indian

Profession(s):

Scientist, Aerospace Engineer, Author, Professor, Statesman

Early Life and Education

• Born into a Tamil Muslim family of modest means.
• Early education at Schwartz High School, Ramanathapuram.
• Graduated from St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli, with a degree in physics (1954).
• Studied aerospace engineering at the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT), Chennai.

Career and Major Achievements

• Joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in 1958.
• Played a crucial role in India's missile development program.
• Project Director for India's first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III).
• Chief Executive of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
• Served as the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister and Secretary of the Defence Research and Development Organisation from 1992 to 1999.
• Played a significant role in India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998.
• Served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007.

Notable Works

• India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium
• Wings of Fire (Autobiography)
• Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India
• Indomitable Spirit
• Turning Points: A journey through challenges

Awards and Honours

Legacy and Impact

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is remembered as the "Missile Man of India" for his contributions to the country's space and missile programs. Beyond his scientific achievements, he was a respected educator and a beloved figure known for his humility and inspiring speeches, particularly to young people. His views, including a translated summary of abdul kalam history in kannada, are readily available and widely studied.

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