APJ Abdul Kalam, a scientist, engineer and researcher was instrumental in developing rocket science in India, enabling that country to send a rocket to space, which was earlier a preserve of Russia and USA only. Apart from being the President of India, he was the head of the Indian Defense Science Establishment prior to retirement. He was also excellent in English, though he was a student of science and graduated in Engineering from MIT (Madras Institute of Technology, India). He was also very fond of students and incidentally breathed his last while talking to the students of University of Gawhati, Assam in May. It was reported by Indian newspapers after his death that he went to the "Rashtrapati Bhaban" in New Delhi, as President he had only an old suitcase with him and when he left the Rashtrapoti Bhaban he carried back his same old suitcase and nothing else. In his biography, he stated that had he not qualified for admission to MIT, he would have gone for honours in English. He used to scribble verses in English in his private diary, some of which are given here:
After a late night at his research laboratory, he wrote:
"Beautiful are those that do
Work that is honest and brave and true.
Moment by moment
The long day through."
After long backbreaking hours of last minute work at launch site in South Indian seaside rocket base at Rameswarm, he penned:
"Who never climbed the weary league-
Can such a foot explore
The purple territories
On Rameswarm's shore?
On the successful launch of the space rocket "Agni", that was pioneered by him, he wrote:
"Do not look at Agni
As an entity directed upwards
To deter the ominous
Or exhibit your might.
It is fire
In the heart of an Indian
Do not even give it
The form of a missile
As it clings
To the burning pride of this nation
And thus is bright!
He had tremendous faith in God, and unlike many scientists and scholars, he was deeply religious, about which he quotes the following lines that he read somewhere. These are:
God has not promised
Skies always blue.
Flower strewn pathways
All our life through!
God has not promised
Sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow,
Peace without pain.
But God has promised
Strength for the day.
Rest for the labour
Light for the way!
(Note: Reference: "Wings of Fire by: APJ Abdul Kalam with Arun Tiwari)
Engr. S. A. Mansoor
Dhaka.
sam@dhakacom.com
