India’s missile man and youth’s favorite role model Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam passed away on Monday after he collapsed during a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management- Shillong.

Bharat Ratna Kalam, the 11^th President of India was a popular head of state between 2002 and 2007. He endured the success of Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP).

Kalam (83) took ill and collapsed at around 6.30 PM at the function. He was rushed to the Bethany Hospital where he was declared dead due to massive cardiac arrest. Kalam’s dead body has been taken to the military hospital for embalming and will be taken to Guwahati by a helicopter and flown to Delhi from there

The government has decided to declare national mourning for seven days.

The President & the Missile Man

Kalam who served as the President of India from 2002 to 2007 was closely involved in the country’s civilian space program and military missile development efforts which earned him the title of ‘India’s Missile Man.’ He worked as a scientist and science administrator, mainly at the Defense Research and Development Organization and Indian Space Research Organization.

He played a pivotal role in India’s Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998. After his tenure, he returned to a life of education, writing and public service. He received several prestigious awards including Panna Dhay Award in 2002 by Maharana Mewar Charitable Foundation, Udaipur.

Born Ayul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam on 15^th October 1931 in a poor Tamil Muslim family in Rameshwaram, he overcame all odds to study physics and aerospace engineering.

We will miss you. RIP.