The fifth President of India was Shri Abdul Kalam, who served from 2002 to 2007.
Shri Abdul Kalam was born on October 15, 1931 in the village of Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, India. He was the youngest of five siblings and his father was a boat owner. Kalam's early education was in a local school, where he excelled in math and science. He later received a degree in aerospace engineering from the Madras Institute of Technology.
After completing his education, Kalam joined the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) where he worked on several projects, including the development of the Rohini satellite. In 1969, he was transferred to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) where he worked on the development of India's first satellite launch vehicle, the SLV-3.
In the 1980s, Kalam served as the Project Director for the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, which resulted in the successful development of several missiles, including the Agni and Prithvi missiles. In 1998, he was appointed as the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, a position he held until his appointment as President in 2002.
During his presidency, Kalam focused on the development of science and technology in India, and worked to make these fields more accessible to the general public. He also worked to improve relations with other countries and to promote peace and harmony within India.
After completing his term as President, Kalam returned to teaching and writing, and continued to work on various projects related to science and technology. He remained active in public life until his death in 2015, and was widely respected and admired for his contributions to India's scientific and technological development.
