Avul Palkir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was the 11th president of India from 2002 to 2007. He spent four decades working as a scientist for organizations like ISRO and DRDO, earning him the nickname "Missile Man of India". Kalam passed away in 2015 while delivering a lecture in Shillong. He was laid to rest with full state honors. As a scientist and statesman, Kalam played a key role in several of India's major science and technology initiatives including satellite launch programs and nuclear tests.