Wings of Fire

Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam's Wings of Fire is an inspiring and articulate autobiography. The thing that most interested me was the holistic view this man has about science and spirituality. I have never found the two contradictory, and hence immediately resonated with the points of views presented. The book also has words of wisdom about professional life, technology management and good leadership qualities.

I was proud of the extreme passion of the engineers and scientists of ISRO and DRDO, who built the first completely indigenous SLV-3. My heart swelled when I read about how excited India was being one of the few nations with satellite launch capability.

The book was also an eye-opener on the advanced defense technology that India currently has. Kalam's accounts instill confidence that there are leaders in India with vision. I had no idea of the extent to which Ms Gandhi had encouraged and nurtured technology during her tenure as Prime Minister. I also learned about other people in power who had acted with true leadership and vision. R Venkataraman had strongly supported missile research during his stint as Defense Minister, and the whole program turned out to be a huge success with the building of a Surface-to-Surface weapon system and a Tactical Core Vehicle. One could argue that these are in the umbrella of destructive technology, but hopefully a nation of the Buddha and Gandhi will not resort to warfare unless the need arises. The advantage of the entire effort is not just the building of missiles, but the development of technology in general, and the growth of the talent pool in the country, which are important by-products.

Kalam gets into many technical details of aeronautical technology as well as general engineering principles. I was very excited reading about the effort of his team during the early years of his career, to build a completely indigenous hovercraft. Today tons of information is at our fingertips, through the internet, unlike back in the 70's and 80's. Kalam designed the hovercraft mostly based on intuitively seeing the similarities it shared with aircraft design.

I was moved to tears when I got to the part when he is conferred the Padma Bhushan. At that point he was at his element, but nearly everyone dear to him had passed away by then, leaving not many close to him who could share in the happiness.

Here are some snippets from the book I especially liked...

Electrons, just like any individual with a certain amount of energy, detest confinement. The tighter the electrons are held by the nucleus, the higher their atom results in enormous velocities of about 1000 km per second! These high velocities make the atom appear a rigid sphere, just as a fast-moving fan appears like a disc. It is very difficult to compress atoms more strongly- thus giving matter its familiar solid aspect. Everything solid, thus, contains much empty space within and everything stationary contains great movement within. It is as though the great dance of Shiva is being performed on earth during every moment of our existence.

***

I often read Khalil Gibran, and always find his words full of wisdom. "Bread baked without love is a bitter bread that feeds but half a man's hunger," - those who cannot work with their hearts achieve but a hollow, half-hearted success that breeds bitterness all around. If you are a writer who would secretly prefer to be a lawyer or a doctor, your written words will feed but half the hunger of your readers; if you are a teacher who would rather be a businessman, your instructions will meet but half the need for knowledge of your students; if you are a scientist who hates science, your performance will satisfy but half the needs of your mission.

***

Your willingness to use your own inner resources to invest your life, especially your imagination, will bring you success. When you undertake a task from your own uniquely individual standpoint, you will become a person.

***

This story will end with me, for I have no inheritance in the worldly sense. I have acquired nothing, built nothing, possess nothing - no family, sons, daughters.

I am a well in this great land
Looking at its millions of boys and girls
To draw from me
The inexhaustible divinity
And spread His grace everywhere
As does the water drawn from a well.

I do not wish to set myself as an example to others, but I believe that a few souls may draw inspiration and come to believe that ultimate satisfaction which can only be found in the life of the spirit.