The whole country was filledwith an unmatched optimism. I secretly wished for a chance to do something for my country. For this, I needed to studyin a good school. I needed to studyin a good school. But I never daredto ask my parents, But I never daredto ask my parents, But I never daredto ask my parents, as I knew they wouldn’t be ableto afford it. they wouldn’t be ableto afford it. One day my father came up to me and, to my utter surprise, said, “Abdul, I know how you’ve always wanted to pursuehigher studies. Your mother and I aren'thighly educated, but we have great dreams for you. great dreams for you. Don’t worry, we will somehow find the money for you to study in a good school.” to study in a good school.” The Schwartz School was in Ramanathapuram, a bustling town that lay across the sea from Rameswaram. My brother took meto the school and I was admitted. It was a very good school. When it was hot and humid, When it was hot and humid, When it was hot and humid, the students were made to sit under trees, as there were no fansin those days. We would run from under one tree to anotherwhen we changed classes. We would run from under one tree to anotherwhen we changed classes. We would run from under one tree to anotherwhen we changed classes. One day, as I was in a hurry, I stepped intothe wrong class, where my math teacher was taking a class. He glared at me throughhis glasses and said, “What are you doing in thisschool if you can’t even findyour way to the right class? “What are you doing in thisschool if you can’t even findyour way to the right class? “What are you doing in thisschool if you can’t even findyour way to the right class? You should just go back to the village where you came from.” He then caught meby the scruff of my neck and caned me in frontof the whole class. and caned me in frontof the whole class. I felt crushed. My family had made greatsacrifices to send meto this school.
My family had made greatsacrifices to send meto this school. My family had made greatsacrifices to send meto this school. I felt terribly homesickat times, I felt terribly homesickat times, but I was determined to make my family proud. to make my family proud. From that day on,I made up my mind not only to be a good student but to be the best. I studied night and day. Many months later, my dream of scoring full marks in my math exam finallycame true. in my math exam finallycame true. I was thrilled! The next morning,during our assembly, the same teacher who hadpunished me earlier, stood up, smiled and said, “Whoever I punish becomes a great man!”
Everyone in the assembly burst out laughing. He then recountedwhat had happened. He then recountedwhat had happened. He pointed to me and added, “Mark my words; this boy is going to bring glory to his schooland teachers.” glory to his schooland teachers.” glory to his schooland teachers.” His praise quite made up for the earlier humiliation. for the earlier humiliation. I went back home afterthat semester I went back home afterthat semester and my entire family rejoiced. My mother made sweets and my father went all over Rameswaramdistributing them. I finally felt that I had donesomething worthy, but there was stilla lot to be achieved.
Missile Man The repeated failures and delays to test launchthe Agni missile created quite a buzzin the press. created quite a buzzin the press. Such delays are commonin rocket science, Such delays are commonin rocket science, but the nation was in no mood to understand. Our difficultieswere ours alone. Our difficultieswere ours alone. People interpreted the delayin their own way and suggested somehilarious alternatives. There was an Amul cartoon There was an Amul cartoon that suggested Agni should use their butteras fuel! Agni should use their butteras fuel! Agni should use their butteras fuel! While the press was outraged over the delay, outraged over the delay, my team was utterlydemoralised by therepeated failures. my team was utterlydemoralised by therepeated failures. my team was utterlydemoralised by therepeated failures. I recalled the variousoccasions when my team leaders had boosted our morale and I thought ofdoing likewise. and I thought ofdoing likewise. I called for a meeting and addressed my team oftwo thousand members. and addressed my team oftwo thousand members.
“A great opportunityhas been given to us. All major opportunitiesare accompanied by equally major challenges. We cannot give up. Our country doesn’t deserve anythingless from us.” doesn’t deserve anythingless from us.” I finished by tellingmy people, I finished by tellingmy people, “I promise you that Agni will be launchedsuccessfullyon our next trial.” that Agni will be launchedsuccessfullyon our next trial.” My team regained its energy! My team regained its energy! Renewing their enthusiasm, they worked with tremendous concentration and will power. The launch was finallyscheduled for 22nd May 1989. Dignitaries such asthe Chief of Army Staff and the Defence Minister had come to witnessthe launch. On the previous night, we had all gone for a walkon the beach that was lit up bya full moon. The waves roared and crashed over the rocks. Would we succeed Would we succeed with the Agni launch tomorrow? with the Agni launch tomorrow? The question was oneveryone’s mind, but none of us was willingto speak. Finally, the Defence Minister broke the silence andasked me, “Kalam, how should we celebrate the Agni success tomorrow? Is there somethingyour heart desires?” It was a simple question, to which I could not find an immediate answer. What did I want? What was it that Idid not have? Then I found the answer. Then I found the answer. “We need a hundred thousandsaplings to plant in ourresearch centre,” I said. “We need a hundred thousandsaplings to plant in ourresearch centre,” I said. The Minister’s face lit up with a friendly glow. with a friendly glow. “You are buying the blessing of mother earth for Agni. We will surely succeedtomorrow,”he predicted warmly. The next day Agni took off at 7:10in the morning. Agni took off at 7:10in the morning. It was a perfect launch. It was like waking up to a bright, crisp morning from a nightmarish sleep. Five years of continuous workat various work centres Five years of continuous workat various work centres had finally paid off. A mere six hundred seconds of elegant flight washed away all our fatigue. What a wonderful culmination to the many years of labour! It was and will remain one of the greatest momentsof my life. one of the greatest momentsof my life.
thaks a lot
ReplyDeletethis helps me alot sir
ReplyDeleteReally very helpful
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