MAHARANA PRATAP
EDUCATION CENTRE
S.ST PROJECT (SESSION 2015-16)
APJ ABDUL KALAM
BIOGRAPHY
Submitted To:-
Neetu ma’am
Submitted By:-
Abhishek Singh
Class- X-C
Roll no.- 2

QUICK FACTS ABOUT APJ ABDUL KALAM
• Full name: Avul Parik Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam.
• Famous as: President of India, Scientist.
• Nationality: Indian.
• Born on: 15 October 1931 AD.
Zodiac Sign: Libra.
• Born in: Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
• Works & Achievements:-
Served as the 11th President of India, was
Chief Project Coordinator for Pokhran II nuclear
tests.

Little did Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma know that their son would
grow up to be the first citizen of India. An Indian scientist and
administrator, Kalam served as the 11th President of India from
2002 until 2007.

CONTINUE………….
One amongst the most respected people of the
country, Kalam has contributed immensely both as a scientist
and as a president. His contribution at the Indian Space
Research Organization (ISRO) has been immense. He was
responsible for numerous projects such as Project Devil and
Project Valiant and launch of the Rohini-1, besides developing
missiles under the missions Agni and Prithvi. For the same, he
has been popularly tagged as the “Missile Man of India”. Kalam
has been honored with great laurels and awards for his work by
both the Government of India and other countries. Currently,
Kalam serves as a visiting professor in various esteemed
institutes and universities of India.

CHILDHOOD
• A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was born to Jainulabdeen and
Ashiamma on October 15, 1931. He came from a family
whose financial conditions weren’t sound enough. As a
means to support his family’s meagre income, Kalam took
up odd jobs in his childhood but never gave up on his
education.

EARLY LIFE AND CAREER
• He graduated from Saint Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli
in 1954 but not satisfied with his degree, he left for
Madras later next year to study aerospace engineering.
He enrolled at the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT).
• After graduating from MIT, Kalam took up the position of
chief scientist at the Aeronautical Development
Establishment of Defense Research and Development
Organization (DRDO). However, the profile didn’t appeal
Kalam much who shifted to the Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO) where he was the project director of
India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle.

CONTINUE………..
• His years at the ISRO were the most crucial ones, as they
left a lasting impact on him. Kalam lead many projects and
turned out to be successful each time.
In the 1970s, Kalam directed two projects, namely, Project
Devil and Project Valiant, which sought to develop ballistic
missiles from the technology of the successful SLV
programme.
A milestone was achieved when locally built Rohini-1 was
launched into space, using the SLV rocket. Upon watching
the raving success of Kalam, the government agreed for
initiation of an advanced missile program under his
directorship. He played a pivotal role in developing
missiles under the missions Agni and Prithvi.

MISSILE MAN OF INDIA
• Kalam was the Chief Executive of the Integrated Guided
Missile Development Program (I.G.M.D.P) which
researched in simultaneous development of a quiver of
missiles instead of taking planned missiles one by one.
• From 1992 until 1999, Kalam was appointed as the Chief
Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister and the Secretary
of Defence Research and Development Organisation. It
was during this time that Kalam served as the Chief
Project Coordinator for Pokhran II nuclear tests, after
which he was fondly called the “Missile Man of India”.

MORE CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENT
• Kalam succeeded K. R. Narayan to serve as the 11th
President of India from 2002 until 2007. It was a highly
one-sided contest. With his appointment, Kalam became
the first scientist and first ever bachelor to occupy the
Rastrapati Bhawan.
• During his tenure as a President, Kalam was both
appreciated and criticised. The latter was mostly due to
his inaction in deciding the fate of 20 mercy petitioners.

BOOKS WRITTEN
• In addition to all the profiles that Kalam holds, he has
authored numerous influential and inspirational books.
Amongst all his books, “India 2020” was the widely read
and appreciated one. It forecasted an action plan which
advocated India turning into a knowledge superpower and
as one of the developed nations of the world by the year
2020. His other books include, “Ignited Minds”, “Mission
India”, “Inspiring Thoughts” and “The Luminous Sparks”.

WORKS AGAINST CORRUPTION AND
OTHERS
• In 2011, he launched his mission for the youth of the
nation called the “What Can I Give Movement” with the
main aim to defeat corruption in India.

WORKS FOR STUDIES
• Currently, Kalam serves as the visiting professor in
various esteemed institutes and universities of India, such
as Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and Indore,
Chancellor of Indian Institute of Space Science and
Technology Thiruvananthapuram, Aerospace Engineering
at Anna University (Chennai), JSS University (Mysore).

AWARDS ACHIEVED
• Kalam is the proud recipient of Padma Bhushan, Padma
Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna awards from the Government
of India. He received the same in the years 1981, 1990
and 1997, respectively.
• In 1997, he was honored by the Government of India with
the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration.

MORE AWARDS
• Later, the next year, he was awarded the Veer Savarkar
Award by the Government of India.
• The Alwars Research Centre, Chennai bestowed Kalam
with the Ramanujan Award in the year 2000.
• Kalam was honored with the King Charles II Medal by the
Royal Society, U.K in 2007.
• The California Institute of Technology, U.S.A presented
Kalam with the International von Kármán Wings Award in
the year 2009. Same year, he won the Hoover Medal by
ASME Foundation, USA.

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
• The IEEE honored Kalam with IEEE Honorary Membership
in 2011.
• Kalam is the proud recipient of honorary doctorates from
40 universities.
• In addition to this, Kalam's 79th birthday was recognised
as World Students' Day by United Nations.
• He was nominated for the MTV Youth Icon of the Year
award in 2003 and in 2006.

GREAT THOUGHTS

KALAM WAS WIDELY REFERRED TO AS "PEOPLE'S PRESIDENT". HE DIED AFTER HE COLLAPSED
FROM AN APPARENT CARDIAC ARREST WHILE DELIVERING A LECTURE AT THE INDIAN
INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT SHILLONG ON 27 JULY 2015, AGED 83. HIS DEATH WAS
MOURNED ACROSS THE NATION WITH THOUSANDS INCLUDING NATIONAL HIGH LEVEL
DIGNITARIES ATTENDING THE FUNERAL CEREMONY HELD IN HIS HOMETOWN
RAMESHWARAM, WHERE HE WAS BURIED WITH FULL STATE HONOURS.

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