An Autobiography of

Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam

WINGS OF FIRE
By:
Jeby Benzy
Halcyons

CONTENTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Dr Kalams Life Journey

Political Views
Personal Life
The King of Many Firsts
Interesting facts about Dr Kalam
Awards and Honors
Books by Dr Kalam
Inspiring thoughts by Dr Kalam

Dr Kalams Life
Journey

 Dr. Kalam was born at Rameswaram in

Dhanushkodi, Tamil Nadu, to a working class

Tamil Muslim family. He received his degree in
aeronautical engineering from the Madras
Institute of Technology in 1958.

Father-Jainulabdeen, Mother-Ashiamma.
Specialized in Aero Engineering from Madras

Institute of Technology.

He initially worked in DRDO in 1958 and then joined

ISRO in 1963.

 Dr Kalam has made significant contribution to Indian

satellite and launch vehicles of ISRO and also in the

missile programme of DRDO.
He was responsible for the evolution of ISRO's

launch vehicles programme and configurations.

He rejoined DRDO in 1982 and conceived the

Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme

(IGMDP) for indigenous missiles.

 He was Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister and

Secretary, Department of Defence Research &

Development from July 1992 to December 1999.
As Chairman, Technology Information, Forecasting

and Assessment Council (TIFAC), he generated the

Technology Vision 2020 documents.
Dr. Kalam has served as the Principal Scientific

Advisor to the Government of India, in the rank of

Cabinet Minister, from November 1999 to November
2001.

 He planned a program that produced a number of

successful missiles, helping him earn the nickname

"Missile Man.
His work led to the successful Pokhran-II nuclear

tests in 1998, which reiterated Indias position as a

nuclear weapon state.

In the words himself:

Do not look at Agni as an entity directed

upwards to deter the ominous or exhibit your
might. It is fire in the heart of an Indian. Do
not even give it the form of a missile as it
clings to the burning pride of this nation and
thus is bright.

 In 2002 Kalam was nominated to succeed outgoing

President K.R. Narayanan.

Kalam easily won the elections in 2002 and

continued up to 2007.
Kalam sought the ways of science and technology

to transform India into a developed country. He is

considered a leading progressive, mentor, innovator
and visionary in India.

 His book "India 2020" strongly advocates an action

plan to develop India into a knowledge superpower

and into a developed nation by the year 2020.
Kalam is credited with the view that India ought to

take a more assertive stance in international

relations.
he regards his work on India's nuclear weapons

program as a way to assert India's place as a future

superpower.

 Kalam's belief in the power of technology to resolve

society's problems and his views of these problems

as a result of inefficient distribution of resources is
modernistic.

He also sees science and technology as ideology-

free areas and emphasizes the cultivation of

scientific temper and entrepreneurial drive.

In this, he finds a lot of support among India's new

business leaders like the founders of Infosys and

Wipro, who began their careers as technology
professionals much in the same way Kalam did.

Personal Life

 Kalam observes strict personal discipline, practicing

vegetarianism, teetotalism and celibacy.

Kalam is a scholar of Tirukkural; in most of his

speeches, he quotes at least one kural.

Kalam has written several inspirational books, most

notably his autobiography Wings of Fire, aimed at

motivating Indian youth.
Most of his books, reveals his spiritual side.

 It has been reported that there is considerable

demand in South Korea for translated versions

of books authored by him.
He is an idol for all, including children.

The King of Many Firsts

 In April 2004, Kalam took his lectures to the

world's highest battlefield - the Siachen glacier.

The one-time missile man of India braved the
chill and spent time interacting with the troops.

 On June 8, 2006- He created history by

becoming the first president to undertake a

sortie in a fighter aircraft, a Sukhoi-30 MKI, from
Lohegaon airbase. As a 74-year old, he
created a record by becoming the oldest Indian
co-pilot to do so.
As President, he donated his income from his

first 10 months in office to the NGO created and

managed by Mata Amritanandamayi.

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 Kalam begins his day by reading from the Bhagwad

Gita.

Kalam is leading a remarkable ascetic life.

He works for about 18 hours each day.
He plays the 'Rudra Veena'.
Took leave just twice, when his parents died.
He is a self-confessed 'Ram Bhakt'.

Awards and Honors

 Ramanujan Award by Alwars Research Centre, Chennai

(2000)

Padma Vibhushan (1990)

Veer Savarkar Award (1998)
Bharat Ratna (1997)
Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration (1997)
Prof Y Nayudamma Memorial Gold Medal (1996)

GM Modi Award for Science (1996)

 HK Firodia Award for Excellence in S&T (1996)

Padma Bhushan in (1981)
National Nehru Award by the Government of MP
Kalam has the unique distinction of having received

honorary doctorates from at least thirty universities.

As a sign of his popularity among Indian youth, MTV-

India recently nominated him as one of the prospects

for its MTV India Youth Icon for the year 2006 Award.

Books by
Dr Kalam

 Wings of Fire: An Autobiography of APJ Abdul

Kalam by A.P.J Abdul Kalam, Arun Tiwari.

India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium by

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Y.S. Rajan.

India-my-dream by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Envisioning an Empowered Nation: Technology

for Societal Transformation by A.P.J.Abdul

Kalam.

Inspiring Thoughts by
Kalam

 "Thinking should become your capital asset, no matter

whatever ups and downs you come across in your life.

"When you speak, speak the truth; perform when you

promise; discharge your trust.... Withhold your hands from

striking, and from taking that which is unlawful and bad..."
A leader can only be free to lead his team when
he keeps a burst of all happening around him in
real time
To succeed in your mission, you must have single

minded commitment. Total commitment is the

common denominator among all successful men
and women.

Thank You