Remembering Dr APJ Abdul Kalam: Rare photos of the Missile Man

Kalam, a career scientist turned statesman, was the 11th president from 2002 to 2007. He passed away on July 27, 2015, after suffering a cardiac arrest while delivering a speech at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Shillong.

Updated: October 16, 2019 07:29 IST

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Today, India celebrates the 88th birth anniversary of India's 11th President, Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam. (Express archive photo)

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Kalam earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from the Madras Institute of Technology, and and joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in 1958. (Express archive photo)

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He soon moved to the ISRO, where he was the project director of the SLV-III which was India’s first indigenously designed and produced satellite launch vehicle. Rejoining DRDO in 1982, he planned the program that produced a number of successful missiles, which led to him being known as the “Missile Man.” In pic: Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam during his sortie in Sukhoi in Pune. (Express archive photo)

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The long list of awards bestowed on Kalam include the Padma Bhushan in 1981 and Padma Vibhushan in 1990. He was later awarded the Bharat Ratna for his contributions to research, the field of science as well as his work with the ISRO and the DRDO. (Express archive photo)

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Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam presents the outstanding parliamentarian award for the year 2000 to the member of parliament Arjun Singh (R) as the speaker of Lok Sabha Somnath Chatterjee (C) looks on during a function to confer the awards for the year 1999; 2000; 2001 and 2002 in the parliament house in New Delhi. (Express archive photo)

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He was an author as well and his books include ‘Wings of Fire’, ‘My Journey’, ‘Ignited Minds – Unleashing the Power Within India’ and ‘India 2020 – A Vision for the New Millennium’. In pic: Dr A P J Abdul Kalam and Narendra Modi at a seminar on ship building; organised by Gujarat government. (Express archive photo)

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Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama and former President APJ Abdul Kalam at the Ramakrishna Mission during the 150 years celebration of Swami Vivekananda and all faith congregation for world peace in New Delhi. (Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)

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Kalam, a career scientist turned statesman, was the 11th president from 2002 to 2007. He passed away on July 27, 2015 after suffering a cardiac arrest while delivering a speech at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Shillong. In pic: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam with former PM Manmohan Singh. (Express archive photo)