A.P.J Abdul Kalam does not need any description. He was popularly knoen as the People'e President, serving India officially as the 11th President from 2002 to 2007. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, is a renowed scientist and has remarkable contiribution towards India's process towards aeronautics. He is also awarded with three of country's most honoured awards - Padma Bhushan (1981), Padma Vibhushan (1990) and Bharat Ratna (1997). The missile man of India passed away at the age of 83 on 27 July 2015.
The Blurb;
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, the son of a little-educated boat-owner in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, had an unparalleled career as a defence scientist, culminating in the highest civilian award of India, the Bharat Ratna. As chief of the country’s defence research and development programme, Kalam demonstrated the great potential for dynamism and innovation that existed in seemingly moribund research establishments. This is the story of Kalam’s rise from obscurity and his personal and professional struggles, as well as the story of Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Trishul and Nag-missiles that have become household names in India and that have raised the nation to the level of a missile power of international reckoning. This is also the saga of independent India’s struggle for technological self-sufficiency and defensive autonomy-a story as much about politics, domestic and international, as it is about science.
What I Felt About The Book
I absolutely loved the book. Yes, despite the fact that the book is more about India's journey to Rocket science, despite the fact that I did not understood a major chunk of the sentences, I was not able to put it down till I finished reading it.
There were some places when I was nodding my head and had to stop reading reminding myself of my own very similar thoughts. For example, one line or quote says -
I used to wonder what made poor people smoke away their hard-earned money.
This is something I keep on repeating whenever I see the rush on any wine/alcohol shop. I seriously wonder the irony - 'I am sure that they would have a reply of no money or poverty whenever when their children ask for a new toy or their wife wished a new ornament/dress. And there they were quenching their addiction of smoking and drinking which in turns take them close to dead end thereby leaving their loved ones with more unfulfilled wishes!'
Success of SLV-3 cought media attention to Kalam. Like all of us, he had same feeling in his heart- "Glory of SLV-3 had not gone to everyone who deserved it". I am sure it is one feeling (either being recognised or being on the other side) each and every individual; must have experienced at least once in his/her lifetime. Great personalities are also humans. We all know this fact. But the mere acceptance of such simple facts gives immense mental peace that they too think like us.
Then, there were some close to heart instances. When Kalam got much needed air Force helicopter ride to Madurai to attend his niece Zameela's wedding - which he had got late for pertaining to his work commitments and was actually feeling guilty for in his subconsciousness, I had the same feeling as Dr Arunachalam - "You have earned this for your hard work..."
The chapter - "STEWARDS" - is quite interesting in terms of forming a team and choosing the leaders to lead them.
- "I had to get the right type of leader who could clearly visualize the goal, and channelise the energies of his team members who would be working at different work centres in oursuit of their own individual goals."
What I Liked About the Book:
1. Former President DR. APJ Abdul Kalam
2. The beginning - The simplicity of life and ability to relate left me awestruck
3. Honest depiction of thoughts at various incidents.
What I Did Not Like About The Book:
Aeronautical Terms - Yes, the book is flooded with them and though, great effort has been done to make the reader understand them, 90% of them went over my head. Result - I skimmed through some pages.
At many places, I had to control my hands really hard to not write those paragraphs of great wisdom. The pages are filled with a number of thoughts to ponder and wow lines.
It's definitely a must read for any one in the field of Rocket science and aeronautics. It's a good read for workaholics.
I would have termed it highly recommended to anyone if the focus was less on turn on aeronautical events and their scientific explanations.
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