S. SHAHEEN TAJ


WINGS OF FIRE

Do you accept Kalam as a great scientific leader in relation to the launch of Agni? Give your reasons.

The Birth of Agni:
Abdul Kalam was sure that the Indian scientists and technologists working together had the capability to achieve this technological break through. The Agni had more than 500 scientists. The launch had been scheduled for 20th April, 1989. Unlike space launch, missile launch involved wide ranging safety hazards. All activities preparatory to the launch went according to schedule. They evacuated the people from nearby village. This led to media controversy. Besides, foreign pressure was exerted to abandon the flight trial.

The launch of Agni:
After a detailed analysis it was decided that the missile was ready for launch on 1st May, 1989. But unfortunately due to technical problems, it was postponed. After two postponements and a possible cyclone, Agni was launched on 22nd may 1989 at 7/10 hours. It was a perfect launch. The missile followed textbook trajectory. All flight parameters were met. They had met success at last after five years of continuous work. They had survived pressure from everywhere to stop the programme.

Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi called the Agni a major achievement in our effort to safe guard our independence and security by self-reliant means.president R.Venkataraman saw in Agni success, the fulfillment of his dream. He congratulated Abdul Kalam and said that it was a tribute to his dedication, hard work and talent.

Abdul Kalam explained to his team major opportunities were accompanied by equally major challenges. One should never give up. One should not allow the problem to defeat one. Inspired by Abdul Kalma’s words, the team of Scientists worked hard continuously and made Agni’s launch successful. This proves that Abdul Kalam is a great scientific leaer. Though the USA threatened to put a stop to all missile related technologies along with all multinational aid, Kalam did not give up his launch of Agni.he asserted that in today’s world, technological backwardness would lead to the threat of subjugation. We should not allow our freedom to be compromised on this account. It is our duty to guarantee the security and integrity of our nation against this threat.


How did India react to the response of the West? Did it stop its missile development programme, or emerge as a self-reliant country in the field of guided missiles?

The West was shocked and angry seeing India’s missile programme. The launch was Prithvi sent shock waves across the neighboring countries. A seven nation technology embargo was clamped. This made India unable to buy anything even remotely connected with the development of guided missiles. The emergence of India as a self-reliant country in the field of guided missiles upset all the developed nations of the world.

The first launch of the missile programme was conducted in September 1985 when Trishul successfully took off from Sriharikota. This was followed by the test flight of pilot less target aircraft. India was slowly graduation from single-laboratory projects to multilaboratory programmes and the to laboratory-industry exercises. India reached the highway to national self-reliance in missile technology.

After the launch of Prithvi in 1988, Indian core competence in rocketry was firmly established. Later the Agni missile was developed as a technology demonstrator project pooling all the resources available in the country. Agni was launched on 22nd Many 1989, the USA showed great anger and threatened to stop all missile-related technologies along with all multinational aid. Gary Mulhollen suspected that Germany had helped India. Germany in turn blamed France. American senator Jeff Bingaman suggested that Abdul Kalam picked the information required for Agni during his stay in Virginia. Kalam was in NASA in 1962 and this technology did not exist even in America by then.


Abdul Kalam is of the opinion that in today’s world technological backwardness results in loss of freedom. It is our duty to guarantee the security and integrity of the nation against this threat.


How did Kalam infuse young blood in DRDL Write the consequences of it in detail?

Abdul Kalam engaged more than fifty university professors and a hundred research scholars as partners in design, development and production from twelve academic institutions and thirty national laboratories. The young engineers whom Kalam and his team had recruited changed the dynamics of DRDL. They were quick enough o grasp the importance of their work. The young scientists negative attitude changed to positive, even older scientists were rejuvenated by being a part of a young team.

Abdul Kalam encouraged the young scientists. He asked them to present their team’s work. Gradually an atmosphere of confidence grew. Young scientists started questioning senior colleagues on solid technical issues. The work environment was lovely, with a good blend of the experience of the older scientists and the innovation of their younger colleagues. This relationship had produced work culture at DRDL.

Kalam praised all the young scientists of IISC, Bangalore; Jadavpur, and Hyderabad, for helping in the development of Pritvi, Akash, Agni and Nag missiles.