"Dream,dream,dream.Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action."
APJ Abdul kalam's childhood photo
"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"
"You have to dream before your dreams can come true."
"You cannot change your Future but you can change your Habits! And changed Habits will change Your Future."
"All birds find shelter during a rain. But eagle avoids rain by fiying above the clouds.ProblemS are common, but attitude makes the difference."
'Winners are not those who never fail but those who never quit."
Today's article celebrates the memory of one of the most influential people in modern Indian
history, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
In this article we're going to be looking at one of the most influential Indian men of
the past century and someone who throughout the course of his life was recognised as one of the great leaders of modern India.Dr Kalam was an aerospace scientist who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to2007.
Born and raised in Tamil Nadu, he studied physics and aerospace engineering when young. Though not considered a particularly gifted student at the time, he was recognised forhis work ethic and focus during his time as a student.
After his education finished, he spent the next four decades as a scientist and science
administrator, mainly at the Defence Research and Development Organisation and Indian Space Research Organisation, being closely involved in India's civilian space programme and military missile development efforts.From his work he became known as the Missile Man of India for the development of ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology.
He also played a pivotal organisational, technical and political role in India's Pokhran-II nucleartests in 1998, the first since the original nuclear test by India in 1974. In 2002, Dr Kalam was elected as the 11th President of India with the support of both the ruling BJP party and the opposition Indian National Congress.For this reason, he was recognized as the "People's President", following which he returned to his life of education, writing and public service after a single term. He has been the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.
For all that he accomplished in his incredible life, Dr Kalam takes most pride in being recognised as a teacher, a position he considers a great responsibility, citing how one of his teacher's at school inspired him as a student to achieve all that he went onto do during his life.
And this is precisely where I'd like to focus today's message, Dr Kalam is one of the great modern teachers and thinkers India, taking the responsibility of a nation on his shoulders and yet, remaining grounded and humble throughout his life, making him a phenomenal leader in the nation.
He learnt about responsibility and leadership at a very specific point in his life, in 1979,during the first Indian Satellite Launch Vehicle. Dr Kalam was the Project Director of SLV mission working with Prof. Satish Dhawan, who was the Chairman of ISRO at that time, where Dr Kalam was employed.
This project was the first time India had attempted to build a rocket launch vehicle.
After ten years of work, the team were ready to launch their first experimental rocket
called the 'Rohini Technology Payload' on August 10,1979.As the countdown began Dr Kalam, along with six other experts, monitored the launch.With four minutes left before the satellite launch, computer algorithms began to go through the checklist of items that needed to be checked. After a minute of checks, the algorithm put the launch on hold, as it showed that some control components were not in order.
With all involved uncertain how to proceed, Dr Kalam looked at the experts supporting
him to understand the scope of the problem.
The experts did their checks and advised Dr Kalam to go ahead with the launch, as they
were confident about their calculations, believing the issue wasn't likely to interfere.
Dr Kalam, being the head of the project, had to take the decision on whether to bypass
the automated process and switch to manual mode to launch the rocket. He chose to trust his advisors and pushed the launch ahead.
In the first stage as the rocket began its ascent, all seemed well. However, durin the latter stage a problem came to pass and instead of the satellite going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal.A major failure for all involved.
The whole world's media was waiting for the press meet, with questions surrounding the
failed launch. Dr Kalam was resting in his room after exhaustion from work, aware he would be responsible for all that had happened. It was at this point that Professor Satish Dhawan, the chairman of ISRO, came to Dr Kalam and called him to join him at the press meet. As Professor Dhawan and Dr Kalam sat in front of world's press, Professor Satish announced
"We failed! But I have a very good trust in my team that next time we will be succeeding for sure".
The stunned Dr Kalam listened to Professor Dhawan's words, as the chairman took full
and complete responsibility for the team's, and specifically Dr Kalam's, failed attempt.
A year passed and on 18 July 1980, the same team led by Dr Kalam successfully launched
Rohini RS-1 into orbit. This moment was a major source of pride for the whole nation as the country celebrated the success.
It was following the launch Dr Kalam got his next great lesson. Prof Dhawan congratulated Dr Kalam and the team and asked Dr Kalam to conduct the press
conference himself that day. Dr Kalam did as told and went onto have a great career in both science and politics, as well as many other outstanding endeavours.
However, Dr Kalam cites the lessons he learnt about leadership from Professor Dhawan as two of the most important lessons of his life, not learnt in school or university, but from a man he admired in his life. To continue, the two great lessons Dr Kalam learned were...
1.
In the face of failure, Professor Dhawan took responsibility A leader is the first to come forward in the face of adversity and this is precisely what professor Dhawan did during the failed launch of 1979.It's important to remember that at this point India was a young nation, one that was still trying to recover from being under rule of the British Empire and then partition with other nations, notably Pakistan.
During this time, many were questioning the spending on projects such as satellite launches,where they felt the money could have been much better utilised for the development of the country. This makes Professor Dhawan's actions in 1979 all the more admirable, as he didn't just have to explain the reasons for the failed launch, but had to face a backlash from people questioning the very project itself.
This leads to the second lesson Dr Kalam learnt...
2.
In times of success, Professor Dhawan gave the limelight to his team
In 1980, when the team successfully launched the satellite into space, Professor Dhawan didn't lead to get the plaudits.
Instead, he took a step back and let his team, the people who had struggled all that time
for that moment, step forward and enjoy the celebrations.
His humility at this moment and, importantly his understanding of leadership, lead to him giving Dr Kalam his next great life lesson.
A true leader knows when to come forward to protect their team, but a great leader can
equally take a step back to let their team enjoy a success, always keeping in mind that
their role as a leader is to work for the good of those they lead. Professor Dhawan was an incredible example in Dr Kalam's life, and just as Dr Kalam's teacher in school inspired his ambition in life, Professor Dhawan helped him mature intothe leader he became.
Dr Abdul Kalam is one of the most influential Indians in history, a person who was admired and loved by over a billion people, and someone whose death was mourned as though the nation had lost its father.
His influence reaches far, beyond the borders of a nation to the greater world beyond. However, just as we remember Dr Kalam, we should also remember the man who protected him in his time of need and stood behind him in his time of joy. His leader, Professor Satish Dhawan.
How did you become so great?
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