A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam

Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, is an Indian scientist and administrator who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007.

Introduction:

  • A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 in a Tamil Muslim family to Jainulabdeen, a boat owner and Ashiamma, a housewife, at Rameswaram, located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
  •  Kalam is popularly known as the Missile Man of India for his work on the development of ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology.
  • Before his term as President, he worked as an aerospace engineer with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
  • He is the  11th President of India from year 2002 to 2007.

Education:

  • He completed his school education at the Rameshwaram Elementary School.
  • He went on to attend Saint Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli, then affiliated with the University of Madras, from where he graduated in physics in 1954.
  • He then moved to Madras in 1955 to study aerospace engineering.

Industry Profile:

  • He worked as an aerospace engineer with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
  • He worked as an aerospace engineer with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
  • He was elected the President of India in 2002.
  • He is currently a visiting professor at Indian Institute of Management Shillong, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and Indian Institute of Management Indore.
  • He is also the chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology Thiruvananthapuram.

Awards:

Year of award or honour Name of award or honour Awarding organisation
2012 Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) Simon Fraser University
2011 IEEE Honorary Membership IEEE
2010 Doctor of Engineering University of Waterloo
2009 HONORARY DOCTORATE Oakland University 
2009 Hoover Medal ASME Foundation, USA 
2009 International von Kármán Wings Award California Institute of Technology, U.S.A
2008 Doctor of Engineering (Honoris Causa) Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
2007 King Charles II Medal Royal Society, U.K.
2007 Honorary Doctorate of Science University of Wolverhampton, U.K
2000 Ramanujan Award Alwars Research Centre, Chennai
1998 Veer Savarkar Award Government of India
1997 Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration Indian National Congress
1997 Bharat Ratna Government of India
1990 Padma Vibhushan Government of India
1981 Padma Bhushan Government of India