In spite of his great successes in life, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam lived as “man down to earth”. When circumstances forced him to move to Army Guest House, overnight, from the sprawling Rashtrapthi Bhawan and when he was frisked like any common traveller in a US airport, he took them all as they came.
Today (July 27) is the fifth anniversary of Dr. Kalam. His life is a testimony to the fact that birth, in any one’s life, is not deterrent to think/act high. “Where there is will, there always a way”. Dr. Kalam a nationalist, genuinely secular, ideal student/teacher/leader/motivator – to top it all – an inspiring scientist who became a People’s President.
His inspirational leadership while working, leading ISRO, DRDO, Scientific Advisor to Govt resulted, as what, we see today in the success of ISRO, Lunar/Mars missions, development and deployment of BrahMos in Army, Air Force and Navy, strategic warheads, and Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles, etc.
He guided DRDO into other areas, for the betterment of the society, in developing low cost stent for cardiac patients and low cost medicine for rural health care. DRDO still continues that and its several innovations are helping in the fight against Corona.
Teaching was his favourite area and after retiring as Scientific Adviser, took to teaching. He wanted to reach a minimum of one lakh students in different parts of India. But he could reach 40,000 students before becoming the President of India. After demitting the office of the President of India he continued and breathed his last while addressing the students of IIM, Shillong.
His focus was on transforming India into a developed nation by 2020. He strongly advocated that education and IT alone will make India stronger. His dreams are becoming a reality today. His autobiography ‘Wings Of Fire’, is a treasure for every Indian, the students in particular. His life gives seven takeaways to those who aspire to excel. They are 1.Nothing is impossible, 2. Difficulties help you enjoy success, 3. Failures are inevitable, 4. Better tomorrow shaped today, 5.Never blame on circumstances, 6. Dream big and work hard and 7.Dedicate your life to a higher purpose.
A few gleanings of his WINGS OF FIRE:
- “Be active! take on responsibilities! Work for the things you believe in! If you do not, you are surrendering your fate to others!
- “We are all born with divine fire in us. Our efforts should be to give wings to the fire and fill the world with glow of its goodness’
- “If you want your footprint on the Sands of time , Don’t drag your feet”
- “A big shot, is a little shot who keeps on shooting, so keep trying”
- “A large number of scientists and engineers leave the country, at their first opportunity to earn more money abroad. It is true that they definitely get great monetary benefits, but could anything compensate for the love and respect from one’s own countrymen?”
- “All reasonable men adapt themselves to the world. Only a few unreasonable ones persist in trying to adapt the world to themselves. All programmes in the world depends on the unreasonable men and their innovate, and often non conformist actions”
- “When your hopes and dreams are dashed , search among the wreckage , you may find golden opportunity hidden in the ruins”
- “God, our creator has stored within our minds and personalities, great potential, strength and ability. Prayers help us to take and develop these powers”
- “When your mind stretches to new a level, it never goes back to original dimension”
- Dr.Kalam put his exemplary life in a nutshell thus: “My story – the story of the son of Jainulabdeen, who lived for a hundred years on Mosque street, in island Rameswaram and died there; the story of a lad who sold newspapers to help his brother; the story of a pupil reared by Subramania Iyer and Iyadurai Solomon; the story of a student taught by teachers like Pandolai; the story off an engineer spotted by MGK Menon and groomed by the legendary Prof. Vikram Sarabhai; story of a scientist tested by failures and setbacks; story of a leader supported by a large team of brilliant and dedicated professionals; this story ends with me, for I have no belongings in the worldly sense. I have acquired nothing. I possess nothing, no family, sons, daughters”. – APJ Abdul Kalam.
