INTRODUCTION:-
Early life and education
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 in a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabdeen was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque; his mother Ashiamma was a housewife. One of his brothers, Velukutty, later became an imam. Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one sister in his family. His father owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.
Kalam's father enrolled him in a local school in Rameswaram, where he completed his primary education. When he was in grade five, his father moved the family to Ramanathapuram so that he could attend Schwartz Matriculation School. In school, he acquired the title "Kalam", meaning "pen" or "writer" in Tamil. He attended St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli, then graduated from Madras Institute of Technology in 1955 with a degree in aeronautical engineering.
Career
Kalam was born in a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on the Pamban Island, then in the erstwhile Madras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabdeen was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque; his mother Ashiamma was a housewife. One of his elder brothers, Kasim Mohammed, had been killed at an early age during the 1930 Rameswaram riots. He was the youngest of four brothers and one sister in his family. His ancestors had been wealthy traders and landowners, with numerous properties and large tracts of land. Their business had involved trading groceries between the mainland and the island and to and from Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims between Rameswaram and the holy Hindu site of Dhanushkodi. As a result, the family acquired the title of "Mara Kalam Iyakkivar" (wooden boat steerers), which over the years became shortened to "Marakier." With the opening of the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in 1914, however, their businesses failed and they had to struggle to make ends meet.
Later life and death
Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 in a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage town of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the madras presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. He came from a humble background and started working at an early age to supplement his family's income. After completing his school education at the Ramanathapuram Schwartz Matriculation School, he moved to Tiruchirappalli in 1949 to attend Saint Joseph's College. In 1950, he graduated from the college with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and Chemistry. He then moved to Madras in 1955 to study aerospace engineering.
Kalam met with success in his professional and personal life. He was married to a fellow Tamil Muslim, Ashiamma, in 1954 and they had two daughters, Asma and Ameena. His wife died in 1999. He was also honoured with several prestigious awards, including the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1997.
Kalam continued to work in the field of science and technology even after his retirement from government service. In 2013, he was appointed as the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He also served as a professor of aerospace engineering at the Anna University in Chennai.
Kalam passed away on 27 July 2015 after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest. He was 84 years old.
Legacy
Abdul Kalam was an Indian politician and scientist who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. He was born and raised in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, and studied physics and aerospace engineering. He worked as a scientist and defense technologist for the Indian government, primarily as the director of the Indian Space Research Organisation. He was also intimately involved in India's civilian space program and military missile development efforts. He died in 2015, while in office.
Kalam was born into a Muslim family in Rameswaram on 15 October 1931. He was the fifth child and first son of Jainulabdeen, a boat owner, and Ashiamma, a housewife. His father owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi. Kalam was raised in a Muslim tradition, but he also spent time with his maternal grandfather, a Hindu holy man. He completed his elementary education at Ramanathapuram Schwartz Matriculation School and went on to attend Saint Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli.
Kalam graduated from Madras Institute of Technology in 1955 with a degree in aeronautical engineering. He joined the Indian Defence Services as a scientist after completing his studies. He worked on the development of India's first indigenous satellite launch vehicle and ballistic missile. He also played a pivotal role in India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998.
Kalam served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. During his tenure, he was popularly known as the "People's President." He was a strong advocate of science and technology, and he inspired young Indians to take up careers in science and engineering. He also worked to promote peace and harmony between India and Pakistan.
Kalam died on 27 July 2015, after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was cremated with full state honors. His death was mourned by people from all walks of life. He is remembered as a great scientist, a visionary leader, and a true patriot.