02-10-2012, 10:53 AM
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam
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born 15 October 1931) usually referred to as Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, is an Indian scientist and administrator who served as the 11th President of India.[1] Kalam was born and raised in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu and completed his studies in aerospace engineering at Madras Institute of Technology (MIT – Chennai).
Before his term as President, he worked as an aerospace engineer with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).[2] Kalam is popularly known as the Missile Man of India for his work on the development of ballistic missile and space rocket technology.[3] He played a pivotal organizational, technical and political role in India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, the first since the original nuclear test by India in 1974. Many scientific experts have however called Kalam a man with no authority over "nuclear physics" but who just carried on the works of Homi J. Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai .
Presidency
Abdul Kalam served as the 11th President of India, succeeding K. R. Narayanan. He won the 2002 presidential election with an electoral vote of 922,884, surpassing 107,366 votes won by Lakshmi Sahgal. He served from 25 July 2002 to 25 July 2007.
On 10 June 2002, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) which was in power at the time, expressed to the leader of opposition, Indian National Congress president Sonia Gandhi that they would propose Kalam for the post of President.[27] The Samajwadi Party and the Nationalist Congress Party backed his candidacy.[28][29] After the Samajwadi Party announced its support for him, President K. R. Narayanan chose not to seek a second term in office and hence left the field clear for Kalam to become the 11th President of India.[30]
I am really overwhelmed. Everywhere both in Internet and in other media, I have been asked for a message. I was thinking what message I can give to the people of the country at this juncture.
—Kalam responding to the announcement of his candidature by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee[31]
On 18 June, Kalam filed his nomination papers in the Parliament of India, accompanied by Vajpayee and his senior Cabinet colleagues.[32]
The polling for the presidential election began on 15 July 2002 in the Parliament and the state assemblies with media claiming that the election was a one-sided affair and Kalam's victory was a foregone conclusion. The counting was held on 18 July.[33] Kalam won the presidential election in a highly one-sided contest. He became the 11th president of the Republic of India.[34] He moved into the Rashtrapati Bhavan after he was sworn in on 25 July.[35] Kalam was the third President of India to have been honoured with a Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, before becoming the President. Dr. Sarvapali Radhakrishnan (1954) and Dr. Zakir Hussain (1963) were the earlier recipients of Bharat Ratna who later became the President of India.[36] He was also the first scientist and the first bachelor to occupy Rashtrapati Bhawan.[37]
During his term as President, he was affectionately known as the People's President.[38][39][40] In his words, signing the Office of Profit Bill was the toughest decision he had taken during his tenure.
Popular culture
In May 2011, Kalam launched his mission for the youth of the nation called the What Can I Give Movement with a central theme to defeat corruption.[81][82] He also has interests in writing Tamil poetry and in playing veenai, a South Indian string instrument.[83]
He was nominated for the MTV Youth Icon of the Year award in 2003[84][85] and in 2006.[86] In the 2011 Hindi film I Am Kalam, Kalam is portrayed as an extremely positive influence to a poor but bright Rajasthani boy named Chhotu, who renames himself Kalam in honour of his idol.[87]