Remembering India’s ‘Rocket Man’ APJ Abdul Kalam on his 84th birth anniversary 7 Photos . Updated: 15 Oct 2015, 01:12 PM IST Livemint Marking the 84th birth anniversary of former president A P J Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi saluted the achievements of India's 'Rashtra Ratna' 1/7School students surround a giant portrait of Kalam as they celebrate his birth anniversary at a school in Chennai on Tuesday. Kalam, who always said he would like to be remembered as a teacher, died on 27 July this year. AP 2/7Paying his tribute to the former President on his 84th birth anniversary, Narendra Modi unveiled a bust of the missile man at the DRDO complex in New Delhi. Modi said he was a Rashtra ratna (jewel of the nation), before he became the Rashtrapati of the country in 2002. PIB 3/7With his colleagues at ISRO: (From left) Standing: Ayyappan Nair, and HSR Iyenger. Sitting: D.R. Dhanaseelan, S. Krishnaswamy, Kalam and V.G. Uppin. Pic courtesy Facebook page of Billionbeats 4/7In 1960, Dr Kalam with Vikram Sarabhai during his stint at ISRO. Kalam considered joining ISRO one of his biggest achievements. Pic courtesy @PIB India 5/7Receiving the Padma Bhushan award in 1981 from then president Neelam Sanjiva Reddy. Pic courtesy @IndiaHistorypic 6/7A tête-à-tête with Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama during the world meet for ‘Peace and Harmony’ to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand. Hindustan Times 7/7Sharing a light moment with Nelson Mandela at Mandelas office in Johannesburg in 2004. Kalam had hailed anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela as a “mighty spirit” after meeting with South Africa’s most famous president. AFP