Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

As Chairman of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) and as a renowned scientist, he guided the nation with the help of 500 specialists to arrive at Technology Vision 2020 giving a road map for renovating India from the present developing level to a developed nation. Dr.Abdul Kalam has also served as the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, in the status of Cabinet Minister, from November 1999 to November 2001 and he was in charge for embryonic policies, plans and missions for several development applications. Abdul Kalam was also the Chairman, Ex-officio, of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet (SAC-C) and guided India Millennium Mission 2020.

Besides being a prominent scientist and engineer, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam served as the 11th President of India from the period 2002 to 2007. He is the first scientist and bachelor to occupy the seat of the highest post in India. He is a man of vision, who is always full of ideas aimed at the progress of the country. His viewpoints on important topics have been expressed by him in the book 'India 2020'. It highlights the action plans that will help build up the country into a knowledge superpower by the time 2020. People loved and respected Abdul Kalam so much during his term as President that was widely called the People's President. One thing for which he received ample reputation is his clear-cut statement that India needs to play a more firm role in international relations.

I was swimming in the sea,
Waves came one after the other
I was swimming and swimming to reach my destination.
But one wave, a powerful wave, overpowered me;
It took me along in its own direction,
I was pulled long and along.
When I was about to lose amidst the sea wave power,
One thought flashed to me, yes, that is courage
Courage to reach my goal, courage to defeat the powerful force and succeed;
With courage in my mind, indomitable spirit engulfed me,
With.....

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Name of Award & Year

Awarding Organization

Padma Bhushan-1981

Government of India

Padma Vibhushan-1990

Government of India

Bharat Ratna-1997

Government of India

Doctor of Engineering-2008

Nanyang Technological University. Singapore

Von Karman Wings Award-2009

California Institute of Technology. U.S.A

Hoover Medal-2009

ASME Foundation. USA

Doctor of Science-2009

Anna University of Technology

Doctor of Science-2011

S.Gujarati University

He is of the view that we should work heartily to make our country a developed nation by 2020. Besides being a bachelor, Kalam is a rigorous disciplarinian, an absolute vegetarian and teetotaler. He is a favorite with kids all over India and has met children all over the country and has encouraged them with his scholarly talks. Along with many firsts to his credit, he became India's first President to undertake an undersea journey when he boarded the INS Sindhurakshak, a submarine, from Visakhapatnam. He also became the first president to carry out a sortie in a fighter aircraft, a Sukhoi-30 MKI.