Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Musli

m family in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Ma

dras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabudeen was
a boat owner and imam of a local mosque;[10] his mother Ashiamma was a housewif
e.[11][12][13][14] His father owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and fo
rth between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam was th
e youngest of four brothers and one sister in his family.[17][18][19] His ancest
ors had been wealthy traders and landowners, with numerous properties and large
tracts of land. Their business had involved trading groceries between the mainla
nd and the island and to and from Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims betwee
n the mainland and Pamban. As a result, the family acquired the title of "Mara K
alam iyakkivar" (wooden boat steerers), which over the years became shortened to
"Marakier." With the opening of the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in 1914, howe
ver, the businesses failed and thAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on
15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram
on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil N
adu. His father Jainulabudeen was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque;[10] h
is mother Ashiamma was a housewife.[11][12][13][14] His father owned a ferry tha
t took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited
Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one sister in h
is family.[17][18][19] His ancestors had been wealthy traders and landowners, wi
th numerous properties and large tracts of land. Their business had involved tra
ding groceries between the mainland and the island and to and from Sri Lanka, as
well as ferrying pilgrims between the mainland and Pamban. As a result, the fam
ily acquired the title of "Mara Kalam iyakkivar" (wooden boat steerers), which o
ver the years became shortened to "Marakier." With the opening of the Pamban Bri
dge to the mainland in 1914, however, the businesses failed and thAvul Pakir Jai
nulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in th
e pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidenc
y and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabudeen was a boat owner
and imam of a local mosque;[10] his mother Ashiamma was a housewife.[11][12][13]
[14] His father owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Ra
meswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam was the youngest of
four brothers and one sister in his family.[17][18][19] His ancestors had been w
ealthy traders and landowners, with numerous properties and large tracts of land
. Their business had involved trading groceries between the mainland and the isl
and and to and from Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims between the mainland
and Pamban. As a result, the family acquired the title of "Mara Kalam iyakkivar
" (wooden boat steerers), which over the years became shortened to "Marakier." W
ith the opening of the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in 1914, however, the busin
esses failed and thAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 19
31 to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Isl
and, then in the Madras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His fathe
r Jainulabudeen was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque;[10] his mother Ashi
amma was a housewife.[11][12][13][14] His father owned a ferry that took Hindu p
ilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[1
5][16] Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one sister in his family.[17]
[18][19] His ancestors had been wealthy traders and landowners, with numerous pr
operties and large tracts of land. Their business had involved trading groceries
between the mainland and the island and to and from Sri Lanka, as well as ferry
ing pilgrims between the mainland and Pamban. As a result, the family acquired t
he title of "Mara Kalam iyakkivar" (wooden boat steerers), which over the years
became shortened to "Marakier." With the opening of the Pamban Bridge to the mai
nland in 1914, however, the businesses failed and thAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdu
l Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage c
entre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency and now in t
he State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabudeen was a boat owner and imam of a
local mosque;[10] his mother Ashiamma was a housewife.[11][12][13][14] His fathe
r owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and t
he now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam was the youngest of four brothers

and one sister in his family.[17][18][19] His ancestors had been wealthy traders
and landowners, with numerous properties and large tracts of land. Their busine
ss had involved trading groceries between the mainland and the island and to and
from Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims between the mainland and Pamban. A
s a result, the family acquired the title of "Mara Kalam iyakkivar" (wooden boat
steerers), which over the years became shortened to "Marakier." With the openin
g of the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in 1914, however, the businesses failed a
nd thAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil
Muslim family in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in t
he Madras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabudee
n was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque;[10] his mother Ashiamma was a hou
sewife.[11][12][13][14] His father owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back a
nd forth between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam w
as the youngest of four brothers and one sister in his family.[17][18][19] His a
ncestors had been wealthy traders and landowners, with numerous properties and l
arge tracts of land. Their business had involved trading groceries between the m
ainland and the island and to and from Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims b
etween the mainland and Pamban. As a result, the family acquired the title of "M
ara Kalam iyakkivar" (wooden boat steerers), which over the years became shorten
ed to "Marakier." With the opening of the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in 1914,
however, the businesses failed and thAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was bo
rn on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage centre of Rames
waram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency and now in the State of Ta
mil Nadu. His father Jainulabudeen was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque;[
10] his mother Ashiamma was a housewife.[11][12][13][14] His father owned a ferr
y that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and the now uninhab
ited Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one sister
in his family.[17][18][19] His ancestors had been wealthy traders and landowner
s, with numerous properties and large tracts of land. Their business had involve
d trading groceries between the mainland and the island and to and from Sri Lank
a, as well as ferrying pilgrims between the mainland and Pamban. As a result, th
e family acquired the title of "Mara Kalam iyakkivar" (wooden boat steerers), wh
ich over the years became shortened to "Marakier." With the opening of the Pamba
n Bridge to the mainland in 1914, however, the businesses failed and thAvul Paki
r Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family
in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Pres
idency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabudeen was a boat o
wner and imam of a local mosque;[10] his mother Ashiamma was a housewife.[11][12
][13][14] His father owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth betwe
en Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam was the younges
t of four brothers and one sister in his family.[17][18][19] His ancestors had b
een wealthy traders and landowners, with numerous properties and large tracts of
land. Their business had involved trading groceries between the mainland and th
e island and to and from Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims between the mai
nland and Pamban. As a result, the family acquired the title of "Mara Kalam iyak
kivar" (wooden boat steerers), which over the years became shortened to "Marakie
r." With the opening of the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in 1914, however, the
businesses failed and thAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 Octob
er 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamba
n Island, then in the Madras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His
father Jainulabudeen was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque;[10] his mother
Ashiamma was a housewife.[11][12][13][14] His father owned a ferry that took Hi
ndu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushko
di.[15][16] Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one sister in his family
.[17][18][19] His ancestors had been wealthy traders and landowners, with numero
us properties and large tracts of land. Their business had involved trading groc
eries between the mainland and the island and to and from Sri Lanka, as well as
ferrying pilgrims between the mainland and Pamban. As a result, the family acqui
red the title of "Mara Kalam iyakkivar" (wooden boat steerers), which over the y
ears became shortened to "Marakier." With the opening of the Pamban Bridge to th

e mainland in 1914, however, the businesses failed and thAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen
Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrim
age centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency and now
in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabudeen was a boat owner and imam
of a local mosque;[10] his mother Ashiamma was a housewife.[11][12][13][14] His
father owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram
and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam was the youngest of four brot
hers and one sister in his family.[17][18][19] His ancestors had been wealthy tr
aders and landowners, with numerous properties and large tracts of land. Their b
usiness had involved trading groceries between the mainland and the island and t
o and from Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims between the mainland and Pamb
an. As a result, the family acquired the title of "Mara Kalam iyakkivar" (wooden
boat steerers), which over the years became shortened to "Marakier." With the o
pening of the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in 1914, however, the businesses fai
led and thAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to a T
amil Muslim family in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then
in the Madras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainula
budeen was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque;[10] his mother Ashiamma was
a housewife.[11][12][13][14] His father owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims b
ack and forth between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Ka
lam was the youngest of four brothers and one sister in his family.[17][18][19]
His ancestors had been wealthy traders and landowners, with numerous properties
and large tracts of land. Their business had involved trading groceries between
the mainland and the island and to and from Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgr
ims between the mainland and Pamban. As a result, the family acquired the title
of "Mara Kalam iyakkivar" (wooden boat steerers), which over the years became sh
ortened to "Marakier." With the opening of the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in
1914, however, the businesses failed and thAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam w
as born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage centre of
Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency and now in the State
of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabudeen was a boat owner and imam of a local mos
que;[10] his mother Ashiamma was a housewife.[11][12][13][14] His father owned a
ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and the now un
inhabited Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one s
ister in his family.[17][18][19] His ancestors had been wealthy traders and land
owners, with numerous properties and large tracts of land. Their business had in
volved trading groceries between the mainland and the island and to and from Sri
Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims between the mainland and Pamban. As a resul
t, the family acquired the title of "Mara Kalam iyakkivar" (wooden boat steerers
), which over the years became shortened to "Marakier." With the opening of the
Pamban Bridge to the mainland in 1914, however, the businesses failed and thAvul
Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim fa
mily in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras
Presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabudeen was a b
oat owner and imam of a local mosque;[10] his mother Ashiamma was a housewife.[1
1][12][13][14] His father owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth
between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam was the yo
ungest of four brothers and one sister in his family.[17][18][19] His ancestors
had been wealthy traders and landowners, with numerous properties and large trac
ts of land. Their business had involved trading groceries between the mainland a
nd the island and to and from Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims between th
e mainland and Pamban. As a result, the family acquired the title of "Mara Kalam
iyakkivar" (wooden boat steerers), which over the years became shortened to "Ma
rakier." With the opening of the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in 1914, however,
the businesses failed and thAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15
October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on
Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu.
His father Jainulabudeen was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque;[10] his m
other Ashiamma was a housewife.[11][12][13][14] His father owned a ferry that to
ok Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhan

ushkodi.[15][16] Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one sister in his f
amily.[17][18][19] His ancestors had been wealthy traders and landowners, with n
umerous properties and large tracts of land. Their business had involved trading
groceries between the mainland and the island and to and from Sri Lanka, as wel
l as ferrying pilgrims between the mainland and Pamban. As a result, the family
acquired the title of "Mara Kalam iyakkivar" (wooden boat steerers), which over
the years became shortened to "Marakier." With the opening of the Pamban Bridge
to the mainland in 1914, however, the businesses failed and thAvul Pakir Jainula
bdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in the pi
lgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency an
d now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabudeen was a boat owner and
imam of a local mosque;[10] his mother Ashiamma was a housewife.[11][12][13][14]
His father owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Ramesw
aram and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam was the youngest of four
brothers and one sister in his family.[17][18][19] His ancestors had been wealt
hy traders and landowners, with numerous properties and large tracts of land. Th
eir business had involved trading groceries between the mainland and the island
and to and from Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims between the mainland and
Pamban. As a result, the family acquired the title of "Mara Kalam iyakkivar" (w
ooden boat steerers), which over the years became shortened to "Marakier." With
the opening of the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in 1914, however, the businesse
s failed and thAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 t
o a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island,
then in the Madras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Ja
inulabudeen was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque;[10] his mother Ashiamma
was a housewife.[11][12][13][14] His father owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgr
ims back and forth between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[15][1
6] Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one sister in his family.[17][18]
[19] His ancestors had been wealthy traders and landowners, with numerous proper
ties and large tracts of land. Their business had involved trading groceries bet
ween the mainland and the island and to and from Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying
pilgrims between the mainland and Pamban. As a result, the family acquired the t
itle of "Mara Kalam iyakkivar" (wooden boat steerers), which over the years beca
me shortened to "Marakier." With the opening of the Pamban Bridge to the mainlan
d in 1914, however, the businesses failed and thAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Ka
lam was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage centr
e of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency and now in the S
tate of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabudeen was a boat owner and imam of a loca
l mosque;[10] his mother Ashiamma was a housewife.[11][12][13][14] His father ow
ned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and the n
ow uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and
one sister in his family.[17][18][19] His ancestors had been wealthy traders and
landowners, with numerous properties and large tracts of land. Their business h
ad involved trading groceries between the mainland and the island and to and fro
m Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims between the mainland and Pamban. As a
result, the family acquired the title of "Mara Kalam iyakkivar" (wooden boat ste
erers), which over the years became shortened to "Marakier." With the opening of
the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in 1914, however, the businesses failed and t
hAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Musl
im family in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the M
adras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabudeen wa
s a boat owner and imam of a local mosque;[10] his mother Ashiamma was a housewi
fe.[11][12][13][14] His father owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and f
orth between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam was t
he youngest of four brothers and one sister in his family.[17][18][19] His ances
tors had been wealthy traders and landowners, with numerous properties and large
tracts of land. Their business had involved trading groceries between the mainl
and and the island and to and from Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims betwe
en the mainland and Pamban. As a result, the family acquired the title of "Mara
Kalam iyakkivar" (wooden boat steerers), which over the years became shortened t

o "Marakier." With the opening of the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in 1914, how
ever, the businesses failed and thAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born o
n 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswara
m on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil
Nadu. His father Jainulabudeen was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque;[10]
his mother Ashiamma was a housewife.[11][12][13][14] His father owned a ferry th
at took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited
Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one sister in
his family.[17][18][19] His ancestors had been wealthy traders and landowners, w
ith numerous properties and large tracts of land. Their business had involved tr
ading groceries between the mainland and the island and to and from Sri Lanka, a
s well as ferrying pilgrims between the mainland and Pamban. As a result, the fa
mily acquired the title of "Mara Kalam iyakkivar" (wooden boat steerers), which
over the years became shortened to "Marakier." With the opening of the Pamban Br
idge to the mainland in 1914, however, the businesses failed and thAvul Pakir Ja
inulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in t
he pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presiden
cy and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabudeen was a boat owner
and imam of a local mosque;[10] his mother Ashiamma was a housewife.[11][12][13
][14] His father owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between R
ameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam was the youngest of
four brothers and one sister in his family.[17][18][19] His ancestors had been
wealthy traders and landowners, with numerous properties and large tracts of lan
d. Their business had involved trading groceries between the mainland and the is
land and to and from Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims between the mainlan
d and Pamban. As a result, the family acquired the title of "Mara Kalam iyakkiva
r" (wooden boat steerers), which over the years became shortened to "Marakier."
With the opening of the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in 1914, however, the busi
nesses failed and thAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1
931 to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Is
land, then in the Madras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His fath
er Jainulabudeen was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque;[10] his mother Ash
iamma was a housewife.[11][12][13][14] His father owned a ferry that took Hindu
pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[
15][16] Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one sister in his family.[17
][18][19] His ancestors had been wealthy traders and landowners, with numerous p
roperties and large tracts of land. Their business had involved trading grocerie
s between the mainland and the island and to and from Sri Lanka, as well as ferr
ying pilgrims between the mainland and Pamban. As a result, the family acquired
the title of "Mara Kalam iyakkivar" (wooden boat steerers), which over the years
became shortened to "Marakier." With the opening of the Pamban Bridge to the ma
inland in 1914, however, the businesses failed and thAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abd
ul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage
centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency and now in
the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabudeen was a boat owner and imam of a
local mosque;[10] his mother Ashiamma was a housewife.[11][12][13][14] His fath
er owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and
the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam was the youngest of four brothers
and one sister in his family.[17][18][19] His ancestors had been wealthy trader
s and landowners, with numerous properties and large tracts of land. Their busin
ess had involved trading groceries between the mainland and the island and to an
d from Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims between the mainland and Pamban.
As a result, the family acquired the title of "Mara Kalam iyakkivar" (wooden boa
t steerers), which over the years became shortened to "Marakier." With the openi
ng of the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in 1914, however, the businesses failed
and thAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil
Muslim family in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in
the Madras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabude
en was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque;[10] his mother Ashiamma was a ho
usewife.[11][12][13][14] His father owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back

and forth between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam
was the youngest of four brothers and one sister in his family.[17][18][19] His
ancestors had been wealthy traders and landowners, with numerous properties and
large tracts of land. Their business had involved trading groceries between the
mainland and the island and to and from Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims
between the mainland and Pamban. As a result, the family acquired the title of "
Mara Kalam iyakkivar" (wooden boat steerers), which over the years became shorte
ned to "Marakier." With the opening of the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in 1914
, however, the businesses failed and thAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was b
orn on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage centre of Rame
swaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency and now in the State of T
amil Nadu. His father Jainulabudeen was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque;
[10] his mother Ashiamma was a housewife.[11][12][13][14] His father owned a fer
ry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and the now uninha
bited Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one siste
r in his family.[17][18][19] His ancestors had been wealthy traders and landowne
rs, with numerous properties and large tracts of land. Their business had involv
ed trading groceries between the mainland and the island and to and from Sri Lan
ka, as well as ferrying pilgrims between the mainland and Pamban. As a result, t
he family acquired the title of "Mara Kalam iyakkivar" (wooden boat steerers), w
hich over the years became shortened to "Marakier." With the opening of the Pamb
an Bridge to the mainland in 1914, however, the businesses failed and thAvul Pak
ir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family
in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Pre
sidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabudeen was a boat
owner and imam of a local mosque;[10] his mother Ashiamma was a housewife.[11][1
2][13][14] His father owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth betw
een Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam was the younge
st of four brothers and one sister in his family.[17][18][19] His ancestors had
been wealthy traders and landowners, with numerous properties and large tracts o
f land. Their business had involved trading groceries between the mainland and t
he island and to and from Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims between the ma
inland and Pamban. As a result, the family acquired the title of "Mara Kalam iya
kkivar" (wooden boat steerers), which over the years became shortened to "Maraki
er." With the opening of the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in 1914, however, the
businesses failed and thAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 Octo
ber 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram on Pamb
an Island, then in the Madras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu. His
father Jainulabudeen was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque;[10] his mothe
r Ashiamma was a housewife.[11][12][13][14] His father owned a ferry that took H
indu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram and the now uninhabited Dhanushk
odi.[15][16] Kalam was the youngest of four brothers and one sister in his famil
y.[17][18][19] His ancestors had been wealthy traders and landowners, with numer
ous properties and large tracts of land. Their business had involved trading gro
ceries between the mainland and the island and to and from Sri Lanka, as well as
ferrying pilgrims between the mainland and Pamban. As a result, the family acqu
ired the title of "Mara Kalam iyakkivar" (wooden boat steerers), which over the
years became shortened to "Marakier." With the opening of the Pamban Bridge to t
he mainland in 1914, however, the businesses failed and thAvul Pakir Jainulabdee
n Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgri
mage centre of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency and no
w in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father Jainulabudeen was a boat owner and imam
of a local mosque;[10] his mother Ashiamma was a housewife.[11][12][13][14] His
father owned a ferry that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth between Rameswaram
and the now uninhabited Dhanushkodi.[15][16] Kalam was the youngest of four bro
thers and one sister in his family.[17][18][19] His ancestors had been wealthy t
raders and landowners, with numerous properties and large tracts of land. Their
business had involved trading groceries between the mainland and the island and
to and from Sri Lanka, as well as ferrying pilgrims between the mainland and Pam
ban. As a result, the family acquired the title of "Mara Kalam iyakkivar" (woode

n boat steerers), which over the years became shortened to "Marakier." With the
opening of the Pamban Bridge to the mainland in 1914, however, the businesses fa
iled and th