It is our privilege to welcome Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the 11th president and first defence scientist of India, for this year?s National Day festivities. Recipient of various honours, the highest being the Bharat Ratna, Dr Kalam, the father of India?s Missile Programme has largely contributed to enabling his country to join ?the select club of nations that call themselves superpowers?.

As a true Indian, he has been only once on a training of six months at the NASA, USA; otherwise, he has done all his studies in India. Man of science as he is, he has faith in God, is a teetotaler, recites the Quran and Bhagavadgita daily.

Born in Rameswaram, South India, young Kalam had to work hard and excel in his studies to come up in life. Despite coming from a middle-class family, as a boy he had to sell newspapers to supplement the earnings of his father, a boatman. Yet he had a dream: he had been fascinated by birds flying in the sky and longed to fly. His teacher at Schwartz High School, Ramanathapuram Iyadurai Solomon, had inspired him saying that to succeed in life, one must understand and master three mighty forces ? desire, belief and expectation. ?With faith, you can change your destiny.??

In addition to selling newspapers, Kalam did odd jobs during his school holidays to pay his school fees. He became a vegetarian because of his financial difficulties as a student at St Joseph?s College, Trichi. Here is a moving episode of his life. After getting his BSc, he applied to the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT), considered a jewel in the crown and a prestigious place for technical education.

Following a fierce competition, he was on the selection list. But the admission procedure ? one thousand rupees ? was beyond his father?s means. Meanwhile, his sister Zohara came forward to support his admission by mortgaging her gold bangles and chain. He was so moved by her gesture and her confidence in his ability to succeed that he pledged to study hard to win a scholarship.

Kalam also had his share of disappointment as he failed to get enrolled in the Indian Air Force. Out of 25 candidates, eight were selected and he was the ninth. His dream of flying was shattered. It took him time to understand that destiny had something else in store for him.

In no time, Kalam travelled to Rishikesh, Swami Sivananda Ashram to seek answers to what upset him. Before coming face- to-face with Swami Sivananda up the hill, he bathed in the Ganga River and took delight in its purity. When he told the Swami he had failed to join the Indian Air Force to fly, he was overwhelmed by his age-old wisdom. Instantly, his anxiety vanished. He found in the Swamiji the perfect teacher to direct a student who had almost lost his moorings.

He soon returned to Delhi and enquired at the ministry of Defence about his recent interview. He was handed his appointment letter and the next day he joined as senior scientific assistant. This opened up opportunities that mattered to rise? and rise above the horizon.

Dr Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam?s life has been an epic struggle, a dedication fired by the spirit of patriotism, a mission. It is a symbol of inspiration, a message to the younger generation to dream? Dreaming, he explains, leads to thinking; thinking provides knowledge; knowledge leads one to work hard, which in turn makes one great.

Kaviraj SOHUR