Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (Tamil: அவுல் பகீர் ஜைனுலாப்தீன் அப்துல் கலாம்) born October 15, 1931, Tamil Nadu, India,
usually referred to as Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam ) was the twelfth
President of India, serving from 2002 to 2007. A notable
scientist and engineer, he is often referred to as the Missile Man of India for his work and is considered a progressive mentor, innovator and visionary in India. He is also popularly known as the People''s President. His term as president ended on July 25, 2007.Kalam has received honorary doctorates from as many as thirty universities . The Government of India has honored him with the nation''s highest civilian honors: the Padma Bhushan in 1981; the Padma Vibhushan in 1990; and the Bharat Ratna in 1997.
Kalam is the third President of India to have been honoured with a Bharat Ratna before being elected to the highest office, the other two being Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Zakir Hussain. He is also the first scientist and first bachelor to occupy Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Referred to as the "People''s President", Kalam is often considered
amongst India''s greatest presidents, going on to win a poll conducted
by news channel CNN-IBN for India''s Best President.