Dr A P J Abdul Kalam - From humble beginnings to distinguished scientist: Gulf News
Dubai: Dr Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, was born to a middle-class family on October 15, 1931, at Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, South India. His father owned boats and rented them out to local fishermen.
Abdul Kalam's first job was that of a newspaper vendor. He was later to become the 11th president of the largest democracy in the world from 2002-07.
Inspired by his primary school teacher, he studied physics in college and later specialised in Aeronautical Engineering at the Madras Institute of Technology.
His life thus transformed as a rocket engineer, aerospace engineer and a technologist.
Popularly known as the People's President', Dr Abdul Kalam is especially loved for his down to earth persona and his mission to transform India into a developed nation by 2020, "by igniting the minds of the youth." He is one of the most distinguished scientists of India with the unique honour of receiving honorary doctorates from 30 universities and institutions.
Coveted awards
He has been awarded the coveted civilian awards the Padma Bhushan (1981), the Padma Vibhushan (1990) and the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna (1997).
His books Wings of Fire, India 2020 - A Vision for the New Millennium, My Journey and Ignited Minds - Unleashing the Power within India are bestsellers, not only in India, but across the world.
Dr Abdul Kalam is also called the missile man of India. He made significant contribution as project director to develop India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) which successfully injected the Rohini satellite into near-earth orbit in July 1980 and made India an exclusive member of the space club.
After two decades with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Dr Abdul Kalam took up the responsibility of developing Indigenous Guided Missiles at the Defence Research and Development Organisation as the chief executive of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
Scientific adviser
He was the scientific adviser to the defence minister and secretary in the Department of Defence Research & Development from July 1992 to December 1999.
During this period he oversaw the weaponisation of strategic missile systems and the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in collaboration with Department of Atomic Energy, which made India a nuclear weapon State.
Dr Abdul Kalam undertook academic pursuit as Professor of Technology & Societal Transformation at Anna University, Chennai from November 2001 and was involved in teaching and research tasks, just before he was appointed president.
gulfnews : From humble beginnings to distinguished scientist
Dubai: Dr Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, was born to a middle-class family on October 15, 1931, at Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, South India. His father owned boats and rented them out to local fishermen.
Abdul Kalam's first job was that of a newspaper vendor. He was later to become the 11th president of the largest democracy in the world from 2002-07.
Inspired by his primary school teacher, he studied physics in college and later specialised in Aeronautical Engineering at the Madras Institute of Technology.
His life thus transformed as a rocket engineer, aerospace engineer and a technologist.
Popularly known as the People's President', Dr Abdul Kalam is especially loved for his down to earth persona and his mission to transform India into a developed nation by 2020, "by igniting the minds of the youth." He is one of the most distinguished scientists of India with the unique honour of receiving honorary doctorates from 30 universities and institutions.
Coveted awards
He has been awarded the coveted civilian awards the Padma Bhushan (1981), the Padma Vibhushan (1990) and the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna (1997).
His books Wings of Fire, India 2020 - A Vision for the New Millennium, My Journey and Ignited Minds - Unleashing the Power within India are bestsellers, not only in India, but across the world.
Dr Abdul Kalam is also called the missile man of India. He made significant contribution as project director to develop India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) which successfully injected the Rohini satellite into near-earth orbit in July 1980 and made India an exclusive member of the space club.
After two decades with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Dr Abdul Kalam took up the responsibility of developing Indigenous Guided Missiles at the Defence Research and Development Organisation as the chief executive of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
Scientific adviser
He was the scientific adviser to the defence minister and secretary in the Department of Defence Research & Development from July 1992 to December 1999.
During this period he oversaw the weaponisation of strategic missile systems and the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in collaboration with Department of Atomic Energy, which made India a nuclear weapon State.
Dr Abdul Kalam undertook academic pursuit as Professor of Technology & Societal Transformation at Anna University, Chennai from November 2001 and was involved in teaching and research tasks, just before he was appointed president.
gulfnews : From humble beginnings to distinguished scientist