APJ Abdul Kalam was an Indian scientist and politician who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007.
He was born on October 15, 1931, in the Tamil Nadu town of Rameswaram.
Kalam was a renowned aerospace scientist and played a key role in the development of India's space program and ballistic missile defense system.
He was known for his humble personality and was often referred to as the 'People's President' for his accessibility and popularity among the public.
Kalam graduated from the Madras Institute of Technology in 1960 with a degree in aeronautical engineering.
He later studied at the Indian Institute of Science and the Defense Research and Development Organization.
In 1969, he was part of the team that successfully launched India's first satellite, Aryabhata, into orbit.
He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, in 1997.
Kalam passed away on July 27, 2015, while giving a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management in Shillong. He was 83 years old.
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