President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is a role model for many, but who are his role models?

He answered the question while addressing a special session of the 92nd session of the Indian Science Congress here Wednesday.

"There are three people I admire most: D.A. Kothari, Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai," he said.

"Kothari was the country's first scientific advisor to the defence minister. Homi Bhaha started the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and later established the Atomic Energy Commission.

"Vikram Sarabhai, my 'guru', established the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL)," he said.

Kalam added that all the three were physicists who contributed to the nation's development.

Kalam himself is a scientist who made a critical contribution to India's space research programme as well as missile technology development.

Talking to the science community comprising of more than 3,000 delegates, he also paid a tribute to his fifth grade teacher Subramaniam Iyer, who inspired him to dream the impossible.

The five-day-long session of the Indian Science Congress was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday.