A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India and a pioneer of the country's space and missile programmes, passed away on July 27, 2015.
He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1997, the Padma Vibhushan in 1990 and the Padma Bhushan in 1981.
Here's a detailed look at his achievements.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (1931-2015)
Timeline
- » 1931: Born Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam on October 15, in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
- » 1954: Graduates in Physics from Saint Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli, in 1954.
- » 1960: Gains degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Madras Institute of Technology.
- » 1969: Transferred to ISRO from the DRDO.
- » 1980: India enters the space club by putting the Rohini satellite in the near earth orbit with the first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III), developed under the stewardship of Dr. Kalam.
- » 1980s-1990s: As the chief of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, he was responsible for the development and operationalisation of AGNI and PRITHVI Missiles.
- » 1992-1999: works as Chief Scientific Advisor to the PM and Secretary of the DRDO.
- » 1998: India conducts the Pokhran II nuclear tests in May with Dr. Kalam as the chief project coordinator.
- » 1999-2001: Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India.
- » 2002-2007: President of India
>A.P.J. Abdul Kalam passes away
The 11th President of India, widely acclaimed as the "people's President", passed away on July 27, 2015 after collapsing during a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management in Shillong.
>Mr. Kalam through the years
A look at photos from the archives of The Hindu of the former president.
- Mr. Kalam's recent article in The Hindu talks about neutrino research. >Read here.
- Failed in my dream of becoming pilot: Mr. Kalam says in new book. >Read here.
- Memorabilia of former President at his Rameswaram house attract visitors. >Know more.
- Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam's vision for the nation. A message on Teacher's Day from the former President, >exclusively for The Hindu In School.
Tributes flow in
>A visionary and a dreamer
Abdul Kalam was an institution- and team-builder who always wanted India to be strong and self-reliant.
>A teacher till the very end
If the people remember me as a good teacher, that will be the biggest honour for me, he used to say.
>Pall of gloom at House of Kalam
As the news spread, people made their way to visit the grief-stricken family.
>Kalam had special fondness for alma mater
He spent four years at the famous St.Joseph’s College from 1950 to complete his intermediate and graduation in Physics.
>Chandipur pays tribute to 'Missile Man'
Kalam was always accessible to everyone — from lowest contributing person to highest ranking scientist.
>Colleagues remember the Missile Man
N. Balakrishnan, Professor at the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, recalls their association.
