Important Questions in Wings of Fire

S.Shaheen Taj, HOD (S&H Dept), NIST


Wings of Fire
Describe briefly the place of Abdul Kalam’s birth. (Or) Narrate the childhood of Abdul Kalam with a brief review of the things and persons that influenced him in his childhood (or) Narrate Kalam’s childhood and the influences of Kalam during his childhood.
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born into a middle class Tamil family in the island town of Rameshwaram in Oct 15, 1931. His parents Ashiamma and Jainulabdeen were widely regarded as the ideal couple. Rameshwaram was a part of Madras state, in British India. Dr Kalam lived in their ancestral house, built of limestone and brick which was a fairly huge house, situated in Rameshwaram’s Mosque Street. Rameshwaram was sacred to pilgrims because of the famous Shiva Temple. It was a sacred Hindu pilgrimage town.

As per the epic Ramayana, Rameshwaram is the place from where Rama sent his attack on Ravana. Every year Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam Ceremony was held there. Kalam’s family used to arrange the boats to carry idols from the temple to the marriage site, situated in the middle of the Rama Tirtha Pond. Hindus and Muslims lived friendly as neighbours. Kalam grew up imbibing both the cultures and religions. The people of Rameshwaram were religious, cultured and gentle.

Rameshwaram was a peaceful town where Hindus Muslims mingled closely, and discussed together on social and religious matters. Kalam learnt many things in his childhood hearing the discussions of his father and Lakshmana Sastry. Kalam’s father and Lakhmana Sastry were good friends. Both of them in their traditional attire discussed spiritual matters. Though their modes of worship were different, their thinking was similar. The small society of Rameshwaram was highly satisfied stratified and quite rigid about the segregation of different social groups. Though sometimes, some Brahmins were inherent towards Kalam, in general he was treated very well.

No doubt, Rameshwaram was a pilgrimage town and fishing locality but, it did not have any good schools or colleges to boast of. So Kalam had to go to study in Ramanathpuram, a much larger town. Inspite of such minor inconveniences Rameshwaram was quite a comfortable and peaceful town during Kalam’s childhood. Kalam feels sorry for leaving such a peaceful town. Kalam was forced to stay at. Ramanathapuram, which lacked the harmony of Rameswaram but ironically, the destiny, swept him away from the home of his childhood.

How did the cyclone that struck the Rameswaram coast affect the author’s family business? How did they deal with the situation?
Kalam,s father Jainulabdeen was wise and he possessed a truly generous spirit. His father was neither educated nor very rich. He lived frugally according to his austere principles. Jainulabdeen avoided comforts and luxuries which he considered non-essential. He had deep faith in God. He believed that when we pray, we move beyond our body, and its material concerns. One becomes a part of cosmos, where wealth, age, caste and creed are not standards for dividing people. Jainulabdeen’s philosophy was that one’s destiny should be vision born out of true knowledge of the self,a nd that fear often prevents one’s hopes being fulfilled. Kalam was greatly influenced by his father’s philosophy.

When Kalam was very young his father put his philosophy into practice. He decided to build a sail boat t ferry pilgrims from Rameswaram to Dhanuskodi and back. The wooden boat was built on the sea shore; timber was seasoned over wood fires to make hull and bulkheads. When the boat was ready Jainulabdeen started a brisk business. After few days, a severe cyclone struck the Rameshwaram coast. The strong winds wrecked Jainulabdeen’s boat. But Jainulabdeen was not at all distressed. He bore his loss with composure. Instead of worrying about his loss, he was more concerned about a greater tragedy caused by the gale. The Pambam Bridge has collapsed during the cyclonic storm, when a train full of passengers was crossing over it.

Kalam learnt both from his father’s attitude and the actual disaster. Kalam who just had experienced the beauty of the sea, now saw its force and uncontrollable energy.

What event influenced the author to move away and study in Schwartz High School? Or Write briefly about the education of Kalam and his becoming an aeronautical engineer. Or Describe how Kalam got educated and grew up into an aeronautical engineer Or Describe about the education of Kalam and the influence on him during his studies?
Kalam in his childhood was influenced by his brother-in-law, Ahmed Jallaluddin who always encouraged him to excel in his education. They talked about scientific discoveries, contemporary writing and literature, medical science and the progress it was making. Kalam’s next influence was Manickam, a militant nationalist, who wanted to fight for Independence by means other than the Gandhian way of non-violence. Manickam had a personal library and Kalam visited there to borrow books and always he encouraged Kalam to read. Kalam’s cousin, Samsuddin, who was the only distributor for newspapers in Rameshwaram was his next influence.

Kalam’s real education started with his mother, his father and later with Jallaluddin and his Brahmin friends and teachers in his childhood. The orthodox, peaceful life of Rameshwaram greatly educated him. His early education was at local school. In 1939, when Kalam was eight year old, World War – II was over. Freedom from British Rule seemed imminent for Indians. Mahatma Gandhi declared that Indians would build their own India. The whole country was filled with optimism. The optimism affected Kalam too and he asked his father’s consent to leave Rameshwaram and to study in Ramanathapuram. Kalam’s father readily agreed to send him saying that going away was a part of growing up. He also said that their love would not bind Kalam nor would their needs hold him. Hence Kalam accompanied by Samsuddin and Ahmed Jallaluddin reached Ramanathapuram and was admitted in Schwartz High School. Despite his homesickness, Kalam was determined to settle down in the new environment to fulfill the giant hopes of his father about his success. The power of positive thinking made him to join in Schwartz High School.

At Schwartz High School, one of Kalam’s teachers Iyaduri Solomon was his guide and mentor. He raised Kalams’s self esteem and self confidence. Kalam completed his intermediate and graduation at St. Joseph’s College at Tiruchinapalli. Rev Father TN Sequeira, Rev.Father Kalalthil and Kalam’s room mates, one an Othodox Brahmin and the other a Syrian Christian influenced Kalam and shaped him. He developed a keen interest in physics. Though physics was Kalam’s fascinating subject, he needed to take Engineering to tealise his dreams. So, he applied and got admission in Madras Institute of Technology (MIT). His sister, Zohra mortgaged her bangles and chain to help Kalam out. Kalam was deeply touched seeing her determination to educate him. He strongly decided to get good marks so that he could get a scholarship. Kalam was very interested in aeronautics and flying machines when he was in MIT. The two dummy flying machines in the premises, the great lecturers he had and the sincere principal of the MIT greatly helped him in becoming an aeronautical engineer. Professor Sponder, KAV Pandalai and Narasingha Rao moulded him. Their great teaching gentle advice further prompted his already kindled desire to pursue aeronautical engineering. They made him think scientifically and prove mathematically. Prof. Srinivasam taught him to maintain standards to be second to none and to keep deadlines.

After completing his education at MIT, Kalam went to HAL in Bangalore for practical training. Kalam’s respect and administration for his teacher, his single minded pursuit of his course made him emerge as a full-fledged aeronautical engineer.

What was the important lesson that Iyadurai Solomon taught the author?
Iyadurai Solomon was an ideal guide and mentor of Kalam. He was broadminded and he made his students feel comfortable in class. He made Kalam realize that one could exercise enormous influence over the events of one’s own life. One should have the intense desire to make anything happen. He also said that with faith one can change their destiny. This lesson came to be true in Kalam’s life. Whenever Kalam saw the sky in his childhood he was always fascinated by its mysteries. He was equally fascinated by flight of clouds. Then itself he decided that he too would fly one day. His dream was fulfilled in later years and he became the first child from Rameswaram to fly.

Iyadurai Solomon instilled in children a sense of their own worth. He raised Kalam’s self-esteem and convinced him, a child of parents who had no benefits of a good education that he too could aspire to become whatever he wished. Hence Kalam was confident and determined to succeed. No doubt, Solomon was a great author to become a great person.

What was the emphasis in the interview at the Air-force Selection Board? What do you understand from the way the author dealt with failing the interview?
After his education at MIT, Kalam went as a trainee to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at Bangalore. He completed his practical training at HAL and emerged as a full-fledged engineer. Kalam, very soon had two different opportunities for employment. One was a career in the Indian Air Force (IAF), the other a job at the Directorate of Technical Development and Production, of the Ministry of Defense. He applied for both and was called at interview at both places almost simultaneously. The interview by the air-force recruitment authority was at Dehradun and interview by DTD & P (air) was at New Delhi.

Kalam traveled to the north for the first time and he enjoyed his journey. He wondered at the beauty of Indian landscape and the vastness of India. The questions asked at the interview at New Delhi were routine and Kalam didn’t have to exercise his brain greately. Kalam was confident that he would be selected. But interview at DehraDun was entirely different. The Selection Board laid emphasis on personality and communication skill. Kalam was nervous and tense and hence could not do well at interview. He stood ninth in the batch of 25 candidates. But only eight officers were selected for IAF and Kalam was disappointed.

Kalam traveled t Rishikesh to soothe his mind. Richkehs was apeaceful pilgrimage centr. He met Swamy Sivananda whose advice soothed his feelings. The Swamy advised Kalam to accept his destiny and to go ahead with his life as he was not destined to become a pilot. Actually Kalam’s destiny was not revealed yet and hence Swamy advised him to forget his failure and think of it as a step that will lead him to his pre-destined path. Swamy’s advice made Kalam to recollect his father’s similar advice and he decided to take what fate offered.

Kalam got appointment as a Senior Scientific Assistant at DTD&P. he did not feel any bitterness or resentment at his failure to enter IAF. He realized that though he was helping not flying aeroplanes, he was helping to make them airworthy.

What according to Kalam does one need to be a successful team leader?
APJ Abdul Kalam was born in 1931 to little educated family of boat owners in Rameswaram. He specialized in A.E. Dr. Kalam made significant contribution in developing India’s first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV). As the scientific adviser, to Defense Secretary he was responsible for evolving policies, strategies and missions for many development applications. With the success of Pokhran-II he became a heroic figure for many Indians.

According to Abdul Kalam, a good leader commands commitment and participation from his/her team. He/she has to get the team together to share whatever little development has been achieved. This slight loss of time was the very small prize to pay for that commitment and sense of team work. Abdul Kalam could spot out good leadership qualities in his small group of workers. They existed at all levels.

Abdul Kalam used to observe his colleagues carefully if they had the interest and willingness to experiment. He also started to listen and observe anyone who showed the slightest promise. Abdul Kalam adopted two ways to strengthen his personal freedom while leading a team. The first method was to strengthen education and skills. Knowledge is a tangible asset quite often the most important tool while working. To lead in a way, is to continue our education. Many professionals often go to night classes to keep themselves abreast of latest technological developments. To be a successful leader, one has to stay back after the din and clutter of a working day to review the work done and Kalam did just that.

These are the leadership qualities which one needs to be a successful team leader according to Kalam.

Write about SLV 3’s history, its failure and its ultimate success.
Prof.Sarabhai the Mahatma of Indian Science wanted to start an Indian SLV. For this purpose he hand-picked a team known as SLV-3. Kalam was chosen as the project leader, and he had also the additional responsibility of designing the fourth stage of SLV-3.

Sarabhai wanted to develop ISLV, after the successful launch of Nike Apache, which was the sounding rocket. This brought great changes in the space research programmes. Many new committies and teams were formed. Kalam and his team worked continuously. The SLV-3 required enormous effort in the areas of rocket propulsion and pushing the pay load into orbit. Slowly, the SLV-3 project started taking shape. Thumba became capable of handling all major systems of a launch vehicle. Prof. Sarabhai visited Thumba frequently to supervise the progress of the team until his untimely death. The TERLS at Thumba became Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). The team worked in full swing as if in memory of the great man who planned it. Kalam was appointed the project manager for SLV-3. SLV-3’s primary objective was to launch a 40kg satellite into a 400km circular orbit around the earth.
Kalam selected the team carefully. Dr.Brahma Prakash formed Project Advisory Committees. A target of All Line Flight Test within 64 months was set in March 1973. The team members were specialists in their own area. This raised them to the heights in their careers later.

About 250 sub assemblies and 44 major sub-systems were conceived during the design of SLV-3, the components required for, were made in India itself. First experimental flight trial of SLV-3 was scheduled for 10 August 1979. The 23mt long, forestage rocket, weighing 17 tons, finally took off elegantly. Stage 1 performance was perfect. But because of some malfunctioning stage-2 went out of control and it crashed into the sea, 560km off Sriharikota. Later the team held meeting, discussed about the fault and after great efforts and collections lifted off SLV-3 off from SHAR. This vehicle which took off on 18 July 1980 set the blue print for India’s satellite programmes and later to missile development. It was an inspiration of success to the whole country.

What does Kalam say about Sarabhai’s contribution to India’s Science programme?
Prof. Vikram Sarabhai was a visionary who pioneered Space Research in India. He had invited Kalam to take up RATO project. During this project Prof. Sarabhai has realized his vision for ten year Space Research. The confidence and courage of Prof. Sarabhai made the Indian Scientific Community competent and ready to take on new challenges. It was Sarabhai who had located Shriharikota to rocket launching station.

Kalam has deep respect and utmost veneration to Prof. Sarabhai. He considers him as the ‘Mahatma of Indian Science’. Prof. Sarabhai was an innovator who was highly optimistic and tolerant. He identified the capabilities of his sub-ordinates. He was the only schentist who single handedly planned and got executed the vast network of Space Research Organizations throughout India. He wanted to develop indigenous rockets and satellites.

Prof. Sarabhai had formed a team named SLV-3 to develop SLV and Kalam was chosen to lead the project. Prof. Sarabhai used to say that mistakes were inevitable but generally manageable. He had the wisdom to understand any kind of situation. He had set up the Rocket Engineering Section at Thumba.

For five years, about 22 scientists and engineers had worked with Prof. Sarabhai who later took charge of important scientific projects. Prof. Sarabhai personally supervised the progress of each and every stage of SLV-3 until his untimely death. The TERLS at Thumba became the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, and the work on SLV -3 went on in full swing in Prof. Sarabhai’s memory.

Within a year of Sarabhai’s death India’s first SLV lifted off from SHAR. This credit goes to the pillars of Indian Space Programme, Prof. Sarabhai in particular. Thus Sarabhai’s visions define the counoutry’s Space Progamme.

Write briefly about Wernher Von Braun’s achievements.
Wernher Von Braun was a German Scientist. He was a great schentist in the fieldof rocketry and missiles. He was a scientist, designer, production engineer, administrator and technology manager, all rolled into one. He worked as technical director of the German Missile Laboratory. He made the lethal V-2 missiles that devasted London in World War II. Later Lethal V-2 missiles were the first missiles to exceed the speed of the sound. At the end of the war Von Braun was captured by the allied forces headed by the USA. He was not ill-treated but in honour of his genius he was given a top position in the rocketry programme at NASA. He worked for the American army and produced the first IRBM, Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, ‘Jupiter’missile with a 3000km range.

Abdul Kalam was awed to meet such a great man as Von Braun. He received Von Braun at the Madras airport and was happy to travel with him in the Avro aircraft from Madras to Trivandrum. During the 90min flight Von Braun asked Kalam about the progress of Indian Space research and listened like a student. Kalam found the father of modern rocketry to be a very humble, receptive and encouraging person.Von Braun advised Abdul Kalam to do anything in rocketry on his own if he wanted to do it. He cited the example of the Americans who looked at every alien product with great mistrust. He also advised to take successes and failures equally as even failures can teach more. Mere hard work would not bring honour. One must have vision and conception of the whole and then work hard to make it a success. Finally he advised Kalam not to make rocketry his profession or livelihood but make it his religion or mission of life.
Abdul Kalam saw Prof. Sarabhai in Von Braun. This speaks about Kalam’s admiration for Von Braun, who had enhanced his wisdom and expanded his vision.
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.

Why was the Nandi project abandoned?
In 1958, Kalam was posted at the Technical Centre. Based on his experience and studies, the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) set up a project team. Kalam was the leader. His first assignment was to design and develop an indigenous hovercraft prototype, called the Ground Equipment Machine. With limited resources and almost no information, the team designed and developed the indigenous hovercraft named ‘ Nandi”.

Defence Minister, V.K.Krishna Menon, was keenly interested in the success of this project. Inspite of his colleagues’ hostility Kalam and his small team succeeded in designing and developing the Nandi hovercraft. It’s appearance was not attractive but it could serve its purpose. V.K.Krishna Menon took a ride in it with Kalam at the controls. The risk was worth as it proved to be a smooth ride. The Defence Minister declared that the basic problems of hovercraft development were solved now. He encouraged Kalam to develop more powerful Prime movers and call him for more rides.

Abdul Kalam completed the Nandi project successfully ahead of schedule. It was appreciated by the Director of ADE also. But by then Krishna Menon was out of office. The new government did not show any interest in the project. Hence the GEM project was called off. Abdul Kalam was greatly disappointment as he had put his heart and soul into the successful creation of Nandi. Thus his early years as an employee ended with a successfully shelved Nandi project.