THE ‘MISSILE’ MAN

मैं रामेश्वरम के उस मल्लाह के बेटे को पुकारता हू, जो तीर्थ यात्रियों को नदी पार करवाता, और जब तक उनकी परिक्रमा पूरी होती तब तक नाव में बैठ कर फिज़िक्स की किताब पढ़ता l मैं बिखरी जुल्फों वाले उस अब्दुल कलाम को सलाम करता हू l

- डॉ कुमार विश्वास 

The word KALAM finds its origin in Medieval Arabic language, it was casted out of a school of thought, an Islamic theology called Kalam Allah, which literally translates to ‘word of god’. Even today the word carries the same gravity, in modern Urdu and Hindustani literature KALAM refers to the creation or poetical writing of a poet. It was only poetry of destiny that the man who carried this name as his identity justified it in every sense. And when you picture Kalam Sahab’s life, you’ll find that he carried that poetry in his persona, his deeds, the way he lived his life. Poets perish but their poems and works stand the test of time and inspire generations further, Kalam Sahab’s life is no different, it’s like a book where every single sentence, every word etched has the power to change a person’s destiny forever, a compendium that will inspire generations to come.

I know I am not worthy enough to write about a man who changed India’s destiny forever. Someone who was respected immensely and equally across all sections of society, religions and political spectrums. A person whose achievements cannot be incorporated in one article, or maybe hundred articles or hundred books. I just want to add this feather to my list of articles, Kalam Sahab’s name to my body of work.

I was in school when I bought a copy of INDIA 2020 in a book fair. I started with the book expecting a rational analysis, a raw collection of facts and then a conclusion based on those facts, the kind of content that is usually covered in these books. What I ended up with was a vision, a vision for a developed, strong, self-reliant India. A vision that could only be described as iridescently magical. A vision that was formed rationally but at the same had the imaginative essence of a ten year old. Infact he got the idea of INDIA 2020 based on a discussion with a little girl in a school where the girl said that she wanted , “ To live in an India that was developed.” Before INDIA 2020 I knew Kalam Sahab as a personality, a person who was famous and part of the regular portion of our G.K books. But after reading the book he became an inspiration, a person to follow. I am writing this article to fulfil my own selfish desire to pen Kalam Sahab’s enchanting persona at least once.

Kalam Sahab’s life is more or less an open book, almost every Indian knows how he started and what he has achieved. But still I will try to give a glimpse of his journey.

“If you want to shine like a sun, first burn like a sun.”

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15th October 1931 in the pilgrimage cynosure of Rameswaram, then part of the Madras Residency today officially in the State of Tamil Nadu. His father owned a ferry which took Hindu Pilgrims between the islands of Rameswaram and Dhanush Kodi. Kalam Sir was the youngest of four brothers and a sister in the family. The family mostly lived in financial crunch and poverty. Kalam Sahab in his childhood had delivered newspapers and rowed his father’s ferry for income.

He was an average student but was always enthusiastic and hardworking. Kalam Sahab attended the Saint Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli, then affiliated with the University of Madras, from where he graduated in physics in 1954. He moved to Madras in 1955 to study aerospace engineering in Madras Institute of Technology.

While in Madras his dean asked him to submit a complex fighter aircraft design in order to maintain his scholarship. The project which in normal situations would require at least thirty days for completion was to be completed only in a deadline of three days. On stake was Kalam Sahab’s future and his scholarship. To the surprise of that Dean Kalam Sahab toiled day and night and completed the design in less than three days.

“All of us do not have equal talent. But, all of us have an equal opportunity to develop our talents.”

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

When he graduated from Madras Institute of Technology, Kalam Sahab tried to enter the Indian Air Force. However he was rejected, in a pool of 22 candidates 8 were supposed to be selected, Kalam Sahab stood 9th. After getting rejected from Air Force Kalam Sahab joined the Ministry of Defence as a Senior Scientific Assistant. He went to NASA for space training in winters of 1962, returned to India in spring of 1963 and joined Indian Space Research Organization. He started working under the supervision of Vikram Sarabhai in the initial Indian Space Programmes. This was way back in 1963 when rocket parts were being carried on bullock carts to the launch pad.

His dedication towards his work impressed Sarabhai and Kalam Sahab was appointed as the Project Director of SLV-3. It is said that the Space Programme at that time was running on a very limited budget and so to make it successful Kalam Sahab worked for 18 hours everyday for the next ten years. But even after all that dedication and hardwork the SLV-3 launch in 1979 was a failure. This crushed the entire team. ISRO Director at that point of time Prof. Satish Dhawan came forward an took the entire responsibility on his shoulders. He said that he was proud of his team and that they would try again next year. Next year in 1980 the SLV-3 rocket successfully escaped the clutches of gravity and launch became successful. Satish Dhawan then gave the entire credit to Kalam Sahab and his team.

Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Kalam Sahab till that point of time had developed close ties with the then Prime Miniter Indira Gandhi Ji. She requested Kalam Sahab to strengthen India’s defence which at that point of time was suffering from shortage of counter attack weapons especially missiles. Kalam Sahab was appointed as the Director of DRDL (Defence Research and Development Laboratory) of DRDO. Kalam Sahab founded the Integrated Missile Development Program (IGMDP). The program became the root of 95% missiles that India operates today. The program has gifted us Anti-Tank Missile NAG, Surface-to-Surface Missile PRITHVI, Surface-to-Air Missiles like AKASH and TRISHUL, and obviously Kalam Sahab’s pet project and India’s most celebrated missile program AGNI.

Kalam Sahab was also the pivot in India’s Nuclear Program, from the time that Narsimha Rao gave his nod to the project till the time it was actually executed in 1999 under the Vajpayee Government. Infact Kalam Sahab was the one who motivated Atal Ji to allow the tests and said that they will conduct the tests in all secrecy without anyone knowing. The Pokhran Tests of 1999 were considered India’s biggest success and CIA’s biggest intelligence failure. All credit to Kalam Sahab.

After retirement Kalam Sahab was offered a Ministerial Position in the then Vajpayee Government but Kalam Sahab outrightly refused. Then on requests from the Prime Minister himself and the leaders of opposition Kalam Sahab stood up for the Presidential Election of 2002. He succeeded K.R. Narayanan to become the 11th President of India, at that time he secured support of both the incumbent BJP government and the principal opposition The Congress Party. Due to his simple living and easy accessibility as a leader he was popularly called the ‘People’s President.’

Post Retirement he taught as a visiting faculty in premier institutions like IIM Shillong, IIM Ahmedabad, IIT-BHU and IISC Bangalore. He loved children. He always said that the best minds of the country sit at the back benches of classrooms. He used to deliver lectures across the country. It was only ironic that he was delivering a lecture in IIM Shillong when he collapsed due to a sudden heart attack, and on 27th July 2015 at 07:45 P.M left for the heavenly abode.

His stories his teachings will always be an inspiration for generations to come. Once while he was working with a team of scientists in DRDO one of his colleagues asked him for a permission to leave at 5:30 so that he could take his kids for an exhibition. Kalam Sahab allowed him, however he got so engrossed in his work that he only saw the time when it was 8:30 P.M. He rushed home only to find that his project head had come at 5:15 P.M and taken his kids to the exhibition.

The same Kalam Sahab once asked an Indian student during the International Space Development Conference (ISDC) at San Diego, California, in 2013 to eat dinner from his plate when the student came to greet him. That was the persona, that was the thinking. He believed in the concept of , “ Simple Living and High Thinking.”

After his death his property was analysed. In terms of materialistic valuables out came 2500 books, a wristwatch, a CD player, a laptop, 6 shirts, 4 pants, 3 suits, 1 pair of shoes and 40 degrees of doctorate from different universities across the world. That was it. No cash, no property, no gold, no expensive collectables, no bonds or stocks, in a world which chases money 24*7 Kalam Sahab had nothing for himself. His property was the love, respect and achievements that he garnered. His property was the immense pride that he had while he was working for his country. His property were the folklores that generations of future Indians would recite with him being the protagonist.

Kalam Sahab was one person whose entire life is an inspiration for generations. Everything he did, every speeches delivered, every project he undertook, every dream he dreamt, every book he wrote. From being rejected as a Fighter Pilot to becoming the Missile Man of India, Kalam Sahab changed our country. With this article I feel I am one step closer to fulfilling my desire of writing a few select articles on a few select people who have inspired me and this country. Republic of India will be grateful to Kalam Sahab till the time it exists. The idea of Kalam Sahab will survive in the vision of modern India for times immemorial. He will remain eternal in our hearts forever.

Never stop fighting until you arrive at your destined place - that is, the unique you. Have an aim in life, continuously acquire knowledge, work hard, and have perseverance to realise the great life.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam