He became the first graduate in the large family when he passed the B.Sc. examination from Saint Joseph College, Thiruchirapalli. The Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) had newly been established in those days. He joined it and thus his whole course of life was changed.
He was not interested in going abroad. He wanted to serve his motherland first. As such before becoming President of India, he went abroad only once. That was his visit to NASA in the USA. He says that he thinks his first and foremost duty is to serve his motherland.
His further knowledge in the field got upgraded when he joined Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in 1958 and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in 1963. Today, he is known as the Missile Man of India. The various Indian Missiles of world order like Prithvi, Trishul, Akash, Agni, etc. are mainly the result of his efforts and caliber.
He is mainly interested in work. He is a bachelor. He is fond of music and the Koran and the Gita. He is a great lover of people, children in particular. Ever since becoming the head of the Indian State, he has been having interaction with children all over the country. May he live