1.Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen “ A. P. J. ” Abdul Kalam was the 11th President of India , serving from 2002 to 2007. Kalam was born and raised in Rameswaram , Tamil Nadu , and studied physics and aerospace engineering. 2. He spent the next four decades as a scientist and science administrator, mainly at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and was intimately involved in India’s civilian space program and military missile development efforts . 3. Kalam missed an opportunity to become a fighter pilot for the Indian Air force. He was on the ninth spot on the list, and there were only eight openings. The first eight shortlisted candidates were recruited. 4. In 1969, Kalam was made the project director for Satellite Launch Vehicles and was shifted to ISRO. The project became successful, and India, under the directorship of Kalam, was able to ...