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Introduction
Kalam was elected as the 11th President of India on 18th July 2002 unanimously by the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party and opposition Indian National congress. He remained in Office from 25th July 2002 to 25th July 2007 and returned to his simple life of reading, teaching and public service after that. Despite being a Muslim by religion, he was strict vegetarian and had memorized every phrase from Bhagwat Gita, a Hindu scripture written in Sanskrit. The aura of Kalam was such that he was respected by people from all the religions, Hindus, Muslims, or Christians.

Early Life
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (APJ Abdul Kalam)was born on 15th October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in Rameshwaram, on Pamban Island, Tamil Nadu. He was the youngest among four brothers and one sister. Kalam’s ancestors belonged to a wealthy family having many properties and lands. Their business was to trade goods and groceries to Sri Lanka. With the opening of the Pamban Bridge, however the family wealth was gradually depleted and all the fortune was lost over time including the ancestral home. Kalam had to face poverty from a very early age. His father Jainulabdeen used to ferry Hindu devotees in his boat from Rameshwaram to Dhanuskodi and back. His Mother Ashiamma was a Housewife. Abdul Kalam also sold newspapers to supplement his family’s income.

Education
During his early education days Kalam was an average student with a strong desire to learn. He completed his schooling from Schwartz Higher Secondary School, Ramanathapuram. During his school days Kalam had already developed a liking for Mathematics. Kalam graduated in Physics in 1954 from St’ Joseph’s college, Tiruchirappalli. He then moved to Madras in 1955 to study Aeronautical Engineering in Madras Institute of Technology. He narrowly missed his dream of becoming a fighter pilot as he stood ninth, while there where only eight positions in the Indian Air Firce.

Career as a Scientist
After graduating in Aeronautical engineering from Madras Institute of Technology in 1960, Kalam became a member of Defense Research and Development Services. He then joined Aeronautical Development Establishment of Defense Research and Development Organization as a Scientist. During his tenure in DRDO he worked on important projects under Vikram Sarabhai, a renowned space Scientist. In 1969, Kalam was transferred to ISRO (Indian Space and Research Organization) where he led many important projects and held prominent positions. He was also the Project Director of PSLV III (Polar satellite Launch Vehicle III), India’s first Satellite launch vehicle, successfully deploying Rohini Satellite in India’s orbit in July 1980.

While in DRDO Kalam started working on a dream project (Expandable Rocket Project) in 1965. On receiving Government’s approval in 1969, he started on expanding his project by recruiting new Engineers. Kalam palyed a vital role in the development of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and SLV projects between 1970s to 1990s.

Both the projects achieved success. Kalam also played a vital role in the development of Ballistic missiles, earning him the title of “The missile Man of India”. Kalam was appointed by Government of India as Chief Executive of Integrated Guide Missiles Development program (IGMDP), for research and development of Missiles. It was during his tenure in IGMDP that Kalam played an instrumental role in the developments of missiles like Agni and Prithvi. During his tenure as the Chief Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister of India and Secretary of the DRDO, Kalam played a vital role in the Pokhran II nuclear test in 1998.