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| -Obits- |
| India mourns its former president and "missile man" |
| 2015-07-27 |
| Kalam served as president for five years from 2002, enjoying the support of both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress. Kalam was closely involved in the country's civilian space programme and military missile development efforts, earning him the sobriquet 'India's Missile Man'. He worked as a scientist and science administrator, mainly at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) before he became president. He also played a pivotal technical and political role in India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, shortly after the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government came to power. After his term, he returned to a life of education, writing, and public service. He received several prestigious awards, including the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor. The government is set to announce a national mourning of seven days. |
| Posted by:John frum |