A P J Abdul Kalam: Passionate story of a Sceintist

It was in late 1950’s, one day at Madras Institute of technology, all the graduating engineering students gathered for a group photograph. The occasion was farewell. Suddenly Prof. Sponder signaled the photographer to wait gesturing a student standing in the third row to come and sit beside him. The student stood spellbound, unable to express his gratitude, when his professor said “You are my best student and your hard-work will help you bring a great name for your teachers in future”. The student sat beside his professor wondering how much faith and trust his professor has on him.

True to the professor’s words, the student after many years went on to become a renowned scientist in the field of rocketry. Today, proudly called as “Missile man of India”. An avid reader of books from cosmology, celestial bodies etc to classics pe nned by Tolstoy, Hardy and Scott. Plays musical instruments like veena and listens to the Bismillah khan’s music. And usually works for eighteen hours a day. The student was A P J Abdul Kalam. He was born on October 15, 1931 at Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, India.

His father couldn’t afford an amount of rupees thousand, when his son was shortlisted in Madras Institute of Technology to do an engineering course. Then Zohara, his sister by mortgaging her jewelry helped him to join the college.

He stood at 9th position out of 25 who attended air force interview at Delhi. But the intake was only eight. He was disappointed, but never lost his hopes. He fetched his first job at Directorate Technical Development and production, Dehradun.

Few years later he was called for Rocket engineer position at INCOSPAR and got selected. Prof. Vikram Sarabhai was one among the interview panel to select him. Who was the then mentor of Kalam and directed him in many of the projects. Kalam considers himself to be fortunate working with Prof. Satish Dhawan, Prof. Brahm Prakash and Prof. Vikram Sarabhai. Kalam was chosen to undergo training at Prestigious NASA, when a plan was put up to set up an Equatorial Rocket launching station at Thumba.

Since he was in Delhi to meet Defense Minister Mr. Venkatraman to get an approval for launching integrated guided missile, was unable to attend his niece marriage on the same day. The project was sanctioned with 338 Crores. Dr. Arunachalam, his colleague informed about the marriage to Defense Minister. Kalam was arranged with a helicopter by Defense Minister and was at the right time to bless his niece.

At school, he was canned by his mathematics teacher Ramakrishna Iyer, for entering the class room without permission. But seeing him scoring full marks in his subject, Ramakrishna Iyer later praised Kalam in the morning assembly in front of all. And kiddingly said “Whom so ever, I cane becomes a great man. Take my word, the boy is going to bring glory to his school and teachers”. The boy not only brought glory to his school and teachers, but to the entire nation called India.

Kalam received Bharat Ratna and Indira Gandhi award in 1997 Padma Vibhushan in 1990 Padma Bhushan in 1981.

He played a leading role in the development of India's missile and nuclear weapons programs which includes India’s first Indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3), Agni and Prithvi. His father wanted him to become a collector, but his son exceeding his father’s dream, has become the eleventh president of India. Today he is popularly known as the “People’s President”. His autobiography “Wings of Fire” is a must read for people who have the burning desire to succeed in life. As a boat owner’s son, his financial freedom was limited. But his passion, hard-work and dedication made him what he is today.

Source: “Wings of Fire” by APJ Abdul Kalam with Arun Tiwari; www.encyclopedia.com, www.wikipedia.com.