Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam -

  The Missile Man of India

(1931-2015)

Childhood of Kalam

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931, to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island.

School Days of Kalam

In his school years, Kalam had average grades but was described as a bright and hardworking student who had a strong desire to learn. He spent hours on his studies, especially Mathematics.

What Kalam always wanted to be?

He always wanted to become an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot , but he created history. He started his career by designing a small hovercraft, but destined by his choice of a job at DRDO

Desire of Kalam to be remembered for

Neither president nor scientist, APJ Abdul Kalam wanted to be remembered as a ‘teacher’.
Kalam began his career as a scientist and ended it as a teacher.

Timeline of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

• July 27, 2015 Passes away in Shillong, Meghalaya Kalam passes away aged 83, after collapsing because of a cardiac arrest while delivering a lecture at IIM Shillong




• 2012 Launches 'What Can I Give Movement Kalam launches the ‘What Can I Give Movement’, a programme for the Indian youth aimed at defeating corruption




• 2002 — 2007 Elected as India's 11th President Kalam is elected the 11th President of India succeeding KR Narayanan. He won the 2002 presidential election with an electoral vote of 922,884. During his five years in office, he was fondly called ‘The People’s President'




• 1999 — 2001 Serves as India’s Chief Scientific Adviser Serves as Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India




• 1998 Spearheads the Pokhran mission India conducts the Pokhran II nuclear tests with Kalam being one of the forces behind its success




• 1997 Honoured with the Bharat Ratna Kalam is awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour for his contribution to the scientific research and modernisation of defence technology in India.




• 1992 — 1999 Appointed India’s Chief Scientific Adviser Kalam is appointed as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of the DRDO




• 1990 Honoured with Padma Vibhushan Kalam is awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian honour




• 1990 Honoured with Padma Vibhushan Kalam is awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian honour




• 1981 Recieves the Padma Bhushan Kalam recieves the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to the field of science and technology




• 1980 — 1990 Develops Prithvi and Agni missiles As the chief of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, he is credited with the development and operationalisation of Agni and Prithvi missiles.




• 1980 Lead's India's entry in the Space club Kalam leads India’s efforts to enter the space club by putting the Rohini satellite in Earth's orbit with the first indigenous SLV-III




• 1969 Moves to ISRO Kalam moves to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) where he helms India's first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III)




• 1960 Joins DRDO as scientist Kalam completes his degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) and joins the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) as scientist.




• 1954 Graduates in Physics Kalam graduates in physics from Saint Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli. He moves to Madras to pursue further education after graduation.




• 1931 Born in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born to Jainulabdeen, a boat owner, and homemaker Ashiamma. He went to Ramanathapuram Schwartz Matriculation School and worked from an early age to supplement the family income.

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"Great personalities are not born every day; they are born once in a century and are remembered for millennials to come. One such great personality that we will always be proud of is Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam."