About HE Dr. APJ Kalam, Former President of India

His Excellency Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, inaugurated the UCC's gala Navathi celebrations on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 7 PM.

APJ Abdul Kalam 11th President of India In office: 25 July 2002 – 24 July 2007 Born 15 October 1931 Birth Place: Rameshwaram Alma mater: Madras Institute of Technology Profession: Aerospace Engineering

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, studied Aeronautical Engineering at Madras Institute of Technology. He made significant contribution as Project Director to develop India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) which successfully injected the Rohini satellite in the near earth orbit in July 1980 and made India an exclusive member of Space Club.

Dr. Kalam was responsible for the evolution of ISRO's launch vehicle program, particularly the PSLV configuration. After working for two decades in ISRO and mastering launch vehicle technologies, Dr. Kalam took up the responsibility of developing Indigenous Guided Missiles at Defense Research and Development Organization as the Chief Executive of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).

Dr. Kalam was the Scientific Adviser to Defense Minister and Secretary, Department of Defense Research & Development from July 1992 to December 1999. During this period he led to the weaponisation of strategic missile systems and the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in collaboration with Department of Atomic Energy.

Dr. Kalam has served as the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, in the rank of Cabinet Minister, from November 1999 to November 2001 and was responsible for evolving policies, strategies and missions for many development applications. Dr. Kalam was also the Chairman, Ex-officio, of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet (SAC-C) and piloted India Millennium Mission 2020.

Dr. Kalam served as Professor, Technology & Societal Transformation at Anna University, Chennai, from November 2001 and was involved in teaching and research tasks. One of his missions was to ignite the young minds for national development by meeting high school students across the country.

Dr. Kalam is one of the most distinguished scientists of India. He received honorary doctorates from 30 universities and institutions. He has been awarded the coveted civilian awards - Padma Bhushan (1981) and Padma Vibhushan (1990) and the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna (1997). He is the recipient of several other awards and Fellow of many professional institutions.

Dr. Kalam became the 11th President of India on 25th July 2002.