Life Profile of

Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen

Abdul Kalam
Life Journey…
Dr. Kalam was born at Rameswaram in
Dhanushkodi, Tamil Nadu, to a working class
Tamil Muslim family. He received his degree
in aeronautical engineering from the Madras
Institute of Technology in 1958.

Father-Jainulabdeen, Mother-Ashiamma.

Specialized in Aero Engineering from Madras

Institute of Technology.

He initially worked in DRDO in 1958 and then

joined ISRO in 1963.
Dr Kalam has made significant contribution to
Indian satellite and launch vehicles of ISRO
and also in the missile programme of DRDO.

He was responsible for the evolution of ISRO's

launch vehicles programme and
configurations.

 He rejoined DRDO in 1982 and conceived the

Integrated Guided Missile Development
Programme (IGMDP) for indigenous missiles.
 ScientificAdviser to Defence Minister and
Secretary, Department of Defence Research &
Development from July 1992 to December 1999.

 As Chairman, Technology Information, Forecasting

and Assessment Council (TIFAC), he generated the
Technology Vision 2020 documents.

 Dr. Kalam has served as the Principal Scientific

Advisor to the Government of India, in the rank of
Cabinet Minister, from November 1999 to
November 2001.
He planned a program that produced a number of
successful missiles, helping him earn the nickname
"Missile Man”.

 His work led to the successful Pokhran-II nuclear

tests in 1998, which reiterated India’s position as a
nuclear weapon state.
“Do not look at Agni as an entity
directed upwards to deter the
ominous or exhibit your might. It is
fire in the heart of an Indian. Do not
even give it the form of a missile as it
clings to the burning pride of this
nation and thus is bright.”

APJ Kalam
Political Views…
 In 2002 Kalam was nominated to succeed
outgoing President K.R. Narayanan.

Kalam easily won the elections in 2002 and

continued up to 2007.

 Kalam sought the ways of science and

technology to transform India into a
developed country. He is considered a
leading progressive, mentor, innovator and
visionary in India.
 His book "India 2020" strongly advocates an
action plan to develop India into a knowledge
superpower and into a developed nation by
the year 2020.

 Kalam is credited with the view that India

ought to take a more assertive stand in
international relations.

 He regards his work on India's nuclear

weapons program as a way to assert India's
place as a future superpower.
 Kalam's belief in the power of technology to
resolve society's problems and his views of these
problems as a result of inefficient distribution of
resources is modernistic.

 He also sees science and technology as ideology-

free areas and emphasizes the cultivation of
scientific temper and entrepreneurial drive.

 In this, he finds a lot of support among India's new

business leaders like the founders of Infosys and
Wipro, who began their careers as technology
professionals much in the same way Kalam did.
Personal Life…
 Strict personal discipline, practicing
vegetarianism, teetotalism and celibacy.

A scholar of Tirukkural; in most of his speeches,

he quotes at least one kural.

 Written several inspirational books, most notably

his autobiography Wings of Fire, aimed at
motivating Indian youth.

 Most of his books, reveals his spiritual side.

He is an idol for all, including children.

The King of Many Firsts
 In April 2004, Kalam took his lectures to the world's
highest battlefield - the Siachen glacier. The one-time
missile man of India braved the chill and spent time
interacting with the troops.


On June 8, 2006- He created history by becoming the
first president to undertake a sortie in a fighter aircraft,
a Sukhoi-30 MKI, from Lohegaon airbase. As a 74-year
old, he created a record by becoming the oldest Indian
co-pilot to do so.

 As President, he donated his income from his first 10

months in office to the NGO created and managed by
Mata Amritanandamayi.
 Interesting Facts
 Kalam begins his day by reading from the Bhagwad
Gita.

 Kalam is leading a remarkable ascetic life.

 He works for about 18 hours each day.

 He plays the 'Rudra Veena'.

 Took leave just twice, when his parents died.

 He is a self-confessed 'Ram Bhakt'.

Awards and Honors…
 Ramanujan Award by Alwars Research Centre,
Chennai (2000)

Padma Vibhushan (1990)

 Veer Savarkar Award (1998)

Bharat Ratna (1997)

 Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration

(1997)

Prof Y Nayudamma Memorial Gold Medal (1996)

GM Modi Award for Science (1996)
 HK Firodia Award for Excellence in S&T (1996)

 Padma Bhushan in (1981)

 National Nehru Award by the Government of MP

 Kalam has the unique distinction of having

received honorary doctorates from at least thirty
universities.

 As a sign of his popularity among Indian youth,

MTV-India recently nominated him as one of the
prospects for its MTV India Youth Icon for the year
2006 Award.
Books by Dr Kalam…
Wings of Fire: An Autobiography of APJ Abdul
Kalam by A.P.J Abdul Kalam, Arun Tiwari.

India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium

by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Y.S. Rajan.

India-my-dream by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Envisioning an Empowered Nation:

Technology for Societal Transformation by
A.P.J.Abdul Kalam.
Inspiring Thoughts…
Thank You…
Angel Rodrigues
VIII B