A TRUE LEADER

Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931. He was the 11th President of India from 2002-2007. A career scientist turned statesman, Kalam was born and raised in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu and studied physics and aerospace engineering. He spent the next four decades as a scientist and science administrator, mainly at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He is also known as the Missile Man of India for his work on the development of ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology.

While delivering a lecture at Indian Institute of Management Shillong, Kalam collapsed and died from an apparent cardiac arrest on 27 July 2015. Thousands including national-level dignitaries attended the funeral ceremony held in his home town of Rameswaram, where he was buried with full state honours.