APJ Abdul Kalam Dies, Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, one of India’s most renowned rocket scientists who served as the nation’s 11th president, dies of cardiac arrest on Monday at the age of 83.

APJ Abdul Kalam was hospitalized after collapsing during a lecture in the northeastern city of Shillong, local media station NDTV reports. APJ Abdul Kalam held longstanding leadership positions for India’s defense and space programs, and was elected president with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in July of 2002.