A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Abdul Kalam at the 12th Wharton India Economic Forum , 2008 11th President of India In office 25 July 2002 – 25 July 2007 Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Manmohan Singh Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat Preceded by K. R. Narayanan Succeeded by Pratibha Devisingh Patil Personal details Born 15 October 1931 (age 81) Rameswaram , British India (present day Tamil Nadu , India) Alma mater St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli Madras Institute of Technology Profession Professor, Author, scientist Aerospace engineer Religion Muslim WEBSITE: abdulkalam.com Early life and education Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 in a Muslim family to Jainulabdeen, a boat owner and Ashiamma, a housewife, at Rameswaram , located in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu He came from a poor background and started working at an early age to supplement his family's income. [ 10 ] After completing school, Ka...