A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: A journey from science to politics

1969: AJP Abdul Kalam takes up the directorship of India’s first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) at the Indian Space Research Organisation.

1970s: Abdul Kalam develops Project Valiant and Project Devil in order to use SLV-III’s technology to build ballistic missiles.

1992: Abdul Kalam becomes the Secretary of Defence Research and Development Organisation till 1999. During this time the Pokran II nuclear tests were conducted.

1997: Abdul Kalam receives the Bharat Rana, India’s highest civilian honour.

2002: Abdul Kalam becomes president of India, with the backing of India’s two major parties, Congress and the BJP.

2007: Abdul Kalam’s term as president ends. He does not seek re-election.