I think I can answer this part.
Alright, let's take a rational look at his achievements, without getting into any personality worshipping, to see why he is a
persona grata of such proportions in India.
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I quote:
"After completing his third year at MIT, Kalam joined Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL), Bangalore as a trainee. Here, he worked on piston and turbine engines and also received training on radial engine-cum-drum operations.
In 1962, he went to Delhi and was part of a DART team, where he undertook preliminary design studies on Human Centrifuges and single-handedly developed and designed a vertical takeoff and landing platform and Hot Cockpit.
During 1963-82, he served the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) in various capacities. Here Kalam initiated Fibre Reinforced Plastics(FRP) activities, then after a stint with the aerodynamics and design group, he joined the satellite launch vehicle team at Thumba, near Trivandram and soon became Project Director for SLV-3. As Project Director, he was responsible for carrying out the design, development, qualification and flight testing of 44 major sub systems. The project managed to put Rohini, a scientific satellite, into orbit in July 1980. He was honoured with a Padma Bhushan in 1981. In 1982, as Director of DRDO, Kalam was entrusted with the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme(IGMDP), India's most successful military research task to date. The programme consisited of 5 major projects for meeting the requirements of the defence services and for establishing re-entry technology.
In 1985, Kalam was appointed Chair of the Programme Management Board, in charge of the supervision and monitoring of over 20 institutions and partners outside-- ranging from large public and private sector suppliers to small specialist firms that required seed money to take up precision tasks.
The Integreated Missile Development Programme constituted 5 major projects for meeting the requirements of the defence services and for establishing re-entry technology. Under his watch, and under severe sanctions from the international community, the missiles went up more or less on schedule: Trishul in 1985, Prithvi in 1988, Agni in 1989 and the others in 1990.
The establishment of the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), a campus 8km from DRDL, in 1988 was perhaps the most satisfying achievement for Kalam during the missile years. He received generous funding from the Government to build the futuristic centre, which is totally geared for work in advanced missile technologies.
Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam is by no means a miracle man. As the head of a vast network of laboratories - whose products include avalanche-controlling structures in Kashmir, water desalination kits for the Thar desert, a world class sonar submarine finder for the latest warship - INS Delhi, and infra-red night vision goggles for the Indian Army - Kalam's attention is necessarily a bit diffused. His self-effacing persona cloaks a formidable catalyst who can make people work.
On 25th November 1999, Kalam was appointed Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. His role has been to advise the government and the country on issues relating to scientific and technical policy in different sectors. Kalam also advised on matters relating to achieving technological self-reliance and foreign collaboration.
However, Kalam has d for quite some time keen on pursuing academic interests. In 2000, Dr. Kalam established the "Millennium Missions 2020"- a blueprint for developing science and technology. He calls it "the second vision of the nation" and says he wants to focus on the minds of children in India and on igniting a love for science and technology."
http://home.allindiansite.com/profiles/kalam.html
