2. Birth
• A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was
born in India on October
15, 1931 in a Tamil
Muslim family to
Jainulabudeen, a boat
owner and Ashiamma, a
housewife,
at Rameswaram,
Ramanathapuram
District, located in the
Indian state of Tamil
Nadu.
3. Childhood
• He came from a poor
background and started working
at an early age to supplement his
family's income.
• After completing school, Kalam
distributed newspapers to
financially contribute to his
father's income.
• In his school years, he had
average grades, but was
described as a bright and
hardworking student who had a
strong desire to learn and spend
hours on his studies, especially
mathematics.
• He was just a simple man with a
great fierceful heart in his
childhood
Kalam house
4. Kalam career
• After graduating
from Madras Institute of
Technology (MIT – Chennai)
in 1960, Kalam joined
Aeronautical Development
Establishment of Defence
Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) as
a scientist. Kalam started his
career by designing a
small helicopter for
the Indian Army
• In 1969, Kalam was
transferred to the Indian
Space Research Organisation
(ISRO)
5. Presidency
• Kalam served as the 11th
President of India
• He served from 25 July 2002
to 25 July 2007.
• Kalam was the third President
of India to have been
honoured with a Bharat Ratna,
India's highest civilian honour,
before becoming the
President.
• He was also the first scientist
and the first bachelor to
occupy Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• During his term as President,
he was affectionately known
as the People's President.
6. Future India: 2020
• In his book India 2020, Kalam
strongly advocates an action plan to
develop India into a knowledge
superpower and a developed nation
by the year 2020.
• five areas where India has a core
competence for integrated action:
(1) agriculture and food processing;
(2) education and healthcare; (3)
information and communication
technology; (4) infrastructure,
reliable and quality electric power,
surface transport and infrastructure
for all parts of the country; and (5)
self-reliance in critical technologies.
These five areas are closely inter-
related and if advanced in a
coordinated way, will lead to food,
economic and national security.
7. Popular culture
• Kalam launched his
mission for the youth of
the nation called the What
Can I Give Movement with
a central theme to defeat
corruption. He also has
interests in writing Tamil
poetry and in
playing veenai, a South
Indian string instrument
8. Awards, Titles and honours
• He has also
received honorary
Doctorates from 40
universities.
• The Government of India
has honoured him with
the Padma Bhushan in 1981
and the Padma
Vibhushan in 1990
• In 1997, Kalam received
India's highest civilian
honour, the Bharat Ratna,
• 1997Indira Gandhi Award
for National Integration
• 1998 Veer Savarkar Award.
• 2000 Ramanujan Award
9. Student’s Day
• A P J Abdul Kalam's 79th birthday was
recognised as World Student's Day by United
Nations.
10. Kalam's writings
• India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium
• Wings of Fire: An Autobiography
• Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India
• The Luminous Sparks
• Mission India
• Inspiring Thoughts
• Indomitable Spirit
• Envisioning an Empowered Nation
• You Are Born To Blossom: Take My Journey Beyond
• Turning Points: A journey through challenges
• Target 3 Billion
• My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions
• A Manifesto for Change: A Sequel to India 2020