A. P. J Abdul kalam (15 October, 1931- 27 July, 2015)

A. P. J Abdul kalam in full name Avul pakir Jainulabeen Abdul kalam. He born in Rameswaram. Indian scientist and politician who played a leading role in the development of India's missile and nuclear weapons program. He was president of India from 2002  to 2007.

     Kalam earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from the Madras Institute of technology and in 1958 joined the defense research and development Organization (DRDO). He soon moved to the Indian space Research Organization, where he was project director of the SLV-lll, India's first indigenously designed and produced satellites launched vehicle. Rejoining DRDO in 1982, kalam planned the program that produced a number of successful missiles, which helped earned him the nick name "Missile Man".

            Kalam was scientific adviser to the defense ministry, and he later served as principal scientific adviser( 1999-2001) to the government with the rank to cabinet minister. Kalam as a national hero, although the tests caused great concern in the international community. 

     In 1999 kalam put forward a countrywide plan called technology vision 2020,which he described as a road map, for transforming Indian from a less-developed to a developed society in 20 years. The plan called for, among other measures, increasing agricultural productivity, emphasizing technology as vehicle for economic growth, and widening access to health care and education. 

              Kalam was nominated by the Hindu nationalist NDA even though he was Muslim and his stature and popular appeal were such that even the main opposition party, the Indian National congress also proposed his candidacy. 

     Kalam was easily won the election and sworn in as India's ll th president a largely ceremonial post, in July 2002.

   Kalam wrote several books, including an autobiography, Wings of Fire. Among his numerous awards were two of the country's highest honours the padam vibhushan and Bharat Ratna.