A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (15 October 1931 – 27 July 2015) was an Indian aerospace scientist and a respected leader who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
	Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Born	15 October 1931
Birthplace	Rameswaram, Madras Presidency, British India Tamil Nadu, India)
Died	27 July 2015 (aged 83)
Place of death	Shillong, Meghalaya, India
Resting place	Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Memorial, Rameswaram
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Aerospace Scientist, Author, Professor, 11th President of India
Years active	1958–2015
Known for	Pokhran-II nuclear tests, Missile Development, People's President
Notable works	Wings of Fire, Ignited Minds, India 2020, Turning Points
Awards	Bharat Ratna (1997), Padma Vibhushan (1990), Padma Bhushan (1981), Hoover Medal, King Charles II Medal
Spouse(s)	None
Children	None
Parents	Jainulabdeen (father), Ashiamma (mother)
Religion	Islam
Website	Official Website

He was born in a small Muslim family in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. Kalam studied physics and later aerospace engineering. For more than forty years, he worked as a scientist and administrator, mainly at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He played an important role in India’s space programme and missile development projects. Because of his work on ballistic missiles and launch vehicles, he was called the "Missile Man of India." He also had a major role in the 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests, which strengthened India’s defence.

In 2002, Kalam was elected President of India with support from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress. People across the country fondly called him the "People’s President." After his presidency, he spent his time teaching, writing, and inspiring young people. He received many awards, including the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour.

On 27 July 2015, while giving a lecture at IIM Shillong, Kalam collapsed and passed away due to cardiac arrest at the age of 83. His funeral in Rameswaram was attended by thousands, and he was buried with full state honours. In 2017, a memorial was opened in his hometown to honour his life and legacy.

Early Life and Education

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 into a Tamil Muslim family in the holy town of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then part of the Madras Presidency (now Tamil Nadu). His father, Jainulabdeen Marakayar, was a boat owner and also served as the imam of a local mosque, while his mother, Ashiamma, was a homemaker. His father’s boat was mainly used to take Hindu pilgrims between Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi.

Kalam was the youngest of five children—four brothers and one sister. His ancestors had once been wealthy Marakayar traders and landowners, belonging to a Muslim community found along coastal Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, who traced their roots to Arab traders. The family had earlier run a business of transporting goods and passengers between mainland India, Pamban Island, and Sri Lanka. But after the Pamban Bridge was built in 1914, their business collapsed. By the 1920s, the family had lost most of its wealth and property, and by the time Kalam was born, they lived in poverty. As a boy, Kalam delivered newspapers to help support the family.

In school, Kalam was not a top student but worked very hard and showed a great interest in learning, especially Mathematics. He studied at Schwartz Higher Secondary School in Ramanathapuram and later graduated in Physics from St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli, in 1954.

In 1955, Kalam moved to Madras (now Chennai) to study aerospace engineering at the Madras Institute of Technology. During a class project, when his progress was slow, the Dean warned him that his scholarship would be cancelled if he didn’t finish within three days. Kalam worked hard and completed it on time, impressing the Dean, who later admitted that the challenge was meant to test his determination.

Kalam had also dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot, but he narrowly missed the chance, as he ranked ninth in the selection process while only eight positions were available in the Indian Air Force.

Scientific Career

After graduating from the Madras Institute of Technology in 1960, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of the Aeronautical Development Establishment. In his early work, he designed a small hovercraft, though he was not fully satisfied with his role at DRDO. Later, he joined the Indian National Committee for Space Research under the leadership of the great scientist Vikram Sarabhai. He was recruited into the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) by H. G. S. Murthy, the first director of the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station.

In 1969, Kalam moved to ISRO, where he became the project director of India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV). This SLV successfully launched the Rohini satellite into orbit in July 1980. Earlier, in 1965, while still at DRDO, he had already started working on a small expandable rocket project. By 1969, the Government of India approved the expansion of the programme, allowing him to bring in more engineers. During the 1960s, Kalam also visited several NASA centres in the USA, including Langley Research Center, Goddard Space Flight Center, and Wallops Flight Facility, to learn about space technology. By the late 1970s, he was actively involved in the development of India’s SLV-3 and later the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), both of which were successful.

In May 1974, Kalam was invited by Raja Ramanna to witness India’s first nuclear test, “Smiling Buddha,” at Pokhran, even though he was not officially part of the project. During the 1970s, he led two important projects—Project Devil and Project Valiant—focused on building ballistic missiles using the technology of the SLV. Although the Union Cabinet was not in favor of funding them, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi used her special powers to secretly allocate funds for the projects. Kalam also convinced the cabinet to keep the real purpose of these projects hidden. His leadership and research brought him national recognition in the 1980s, leading to the launch of a full-fledged missile development programme under his guidance.

Working closely with metallurgist V. S. Arunachalam and with the support of Defence Minister R. Venkataraman, Kalam suggested developing a whole range of missiles at the same time instead of one by one. This idea led to the creation of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), for which the cabinet approved a budget of ₹3.88 billion (about ₹66 billion in 2023). Kalam was appointed as the chief executive of this programme, which developed missiles like Agni (intermediate-range ballistic missile) and Prithvi (tactical surface-to-surface missile). For these achievements, he became popularly known as the “Missile Man of India.”

From July 1992 to December 1999, Kalam served as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister and as the Secretary of DRDO. He played an important organisational, political, and technical role in the Pokhran-II nuclear tests of May 1998. Along with Rajagopala Chidambaram, he was the chief coordinator of the project. These tests made Kalam a household name as India’s leading nuclear scientist, though some controversies followed when scientist K. Santhanam claimed that the thermonuclear device had failed. Kalam and Chidambaram strongly rejected this claim.

Apart from missiles and nuclear research, Kalam also contributed to healthcare technology. In 1998, he worked with cardiologist B. Somaraju to design a low-cost coronary stent called the Kalam-Raju Stent. Later, in 2012, the duo created the Kalam-Raju Tablet, a low-cost device meant for rural healthcare workers.

Presidency (2002–2007)

On 10 June 2002, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) announced that it wanted to nominate A. P. J. Abdul Kalam for the post of President of India. His candidature was also supported by opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party and the Nationalist Congress Party. With so much support for Kalam, the then-President K. R. Narayanan chose not to run for a second term.

Kalam, while reacting to his nomination, said he was deeply touched and wondered what message he could give to the people of the country at such an important time.

On 18 June 2002, Kalam filed his nomination papers in Parliament, accompanied by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and senior cabinet leaders. His opponent was Lakshmi Sahgal, and voting took place on 15 July in Parliament and the state assemblies. As expected, Kalam won by a huge margin—he received 922,884 electoral votes, while Sahgal got 107,366. He was sworn in as the 11th President of India on 25 July 2002. He became the first scientist and the first bachelor to hold the highest office in India.

During his term, Kalam became popularly known as the “People’s President.” He later said that the toughest decision of his presidency was signing the Office of Profit Bill. In September 2003, during an interactive session in Chandigarh, he also spoke about the importance of a Uniform Civil Code for India. In 2005, he approved the imposition of President’s Rule in Bihar.

When it came to mercy petitions (requests to reduce death penalties), Kalam did not take action on 20 out of 21 cases, including that of Afzal Guru, who was convicted for the 2001 Parliament attack. He acted only on one plea—that of Dhananjoy Chatterjee, whose petition he rejected, leading to Chatterjee’s execution.

Towards the end of his term in 2007, Kalam said he was open to a second term, but only if he was sure of winning. The United National Progressive Alliance supported his name, but he did not receive backing from the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Two days later, Kalam announced that he would not contest again, as he did not want to drag the Rashtrapati Bhavan into political matters.

In 2012, when the term of President Pratibha Patil was about to end, reports suggested that Kalam might run again. Many people on social media showed strong support for him, and some parties like the BJP and the Trinamool Congress were also in favour. But the Congress Party opposed his nomination. On 18 June 2012, Kalam finally declined, saying:

“Many citizens want me to contest again, and I am touched by their love and trust. But I have decided not to. I thank everyone for their support and affection.”

Post-Presidency

After finishing his term as President, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam went back to teaching. He became a visiting professor at several institutions, including IIM Shillong, his alma mater Anna University in Chennai, and the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. In 2007, he was appointed the first chancellor of the newly set up Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram. He also gave lectures to management students across India and even visited China twice, where he conducted sessions at Peking University.

In 2011, Kalam supported the setting up of the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu, assuring people that the plant was safe. However, many locals were not convinced and some opposed his visit.

In May 2012, Kalam started a youth movement called “What Can I Give”, with the main goal of inspiring young Indians to fight corruption.

Death

On 27 July 2015, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, aged 83, collapsed while delivering a lecture titled “Creating a Liveable Planet Earth” at IIM Shillong. Roughly five minutes into his talk, he experienced discomfort, collapsed, and was rushed to nearby Bethany Hospital in critical condition. Doctors confirmed that he succumbed to a sudden cardiac arrest at around 7:45 PM IST.

The sudden and poignant nature of his passing while interacting with students—his lifelong passion—led to widespread shock and grief across India and globally. Reflecting on his demise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that it was a “great loss to the scientific community” and noted Kalam’s unique ability to “show the way.” Thousands of tributes poured in from political leaders, scientists, youth groups, and international dignitaries.

Legacy

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam left behind a towering legacy — not just as a brilliant scientist and former President, but as a moral icon and teacher to the nation. His vision, simplicity, and ability to connect with people across class, age, and religion made him one of the most beloved public figures in modern Indian history.

Kalam redefined the role of the President of India, transforming it from a ceremonial office into a platform for youth engagement, national development, and ethical leadership. Referred to as the “People’s President,” his speeches and books ignited millions of young minds, urging them to “dream big, think differently, and act with courage.”

His books, such as Wings of Fire, Ignited Minds, India 2020, and Transcendence, remain deeply influential across educational institutions. Wings of Fire, his autobiography, is now considered essential reading in schools and universities, having been translated into multiple Indian and foreign languages.

Numerous awards, institutions, and scientific missions have been named in his honour. The Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award is given annually by the Tamil Nadu government for contributions to science, humanities, and student welfare. His birthday, 15 October, is observed as World Students' Day, recognized by the UN to honour his dedication to education and youth empowerment.

In 2018, India’s Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) named a new missile complex in Hyderabad after him, and a technology university in his home state was renamed Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University. His statue now stands in Rameswaram, and his former residence has been converted into the Dr. Kalam Memorial, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017.

Even in death, Kalam remains a symbol of national integrity, humility, and purpose-driven leadership — someone who proved that science, simplicity, and spirituality can coexist within the heart of a modern Indian citizen.'

See Also

• ISRO

• DRDO

• Bharat Ratna

• Pokhran-II

• President of India