Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, widely known as APJ Abdul Kalam, was born on October 15, 1931, in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India.
He came from a modest background; his father, Jainulabdeen, was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque, and his mother, Ashiamma, was a housewife.
Despite economic challenges, Kalam was a diligent student with a deep interest in learning, particularly in mathematics and physics.
Kalam's educational journey began at Schwartz Higher Secondary School in Ramanathapuram. He went on to attend St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli, where he graduated in physics in 1954.
Eager to further his studies, he moved to Madras (now Chennai) and joined the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT), where he graduated in aeronautical engineering in 1960.
In 2002, Kalam was elected as the 11th President of India, serving until 2007.
Dr. Kalam received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1997. He was also the recipient of the Padma Bhushan (1981) and Padma Vibhushan (1990).
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam passed away on July 27, 2015, while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong.