A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Head of state or government

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was an Indian aerospace engineer and science administrator who served as president of India from 2002 to 2007. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 1981 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1990. In 1997, he was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, for his contribution to the scientific research and modernisation of defence technology in India.