Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, one of the brains behind the Pokhran-II nuclear tests, ISRO’s launch vehicle program, DSDO’s missiles program, and many more. His document on Technology Vision 2020 was a blueprint to make India a developed country which one can easily see through his best-selling books, one with Yagnaswami Sundara Rajan who himself is a well-recognized authority on technology development, India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium and Ignited Minds: Unleashing the power with India.
There is one other book The Scientific Indian (A twenty-first Century guide to the world around us by A.P.J Abdul Kalam & Y.S. Rajan), which every Indian should read because this book is for, as it is written on the very starting set of pages:
“This book is dedicated to all those who are curious about nature and life and bold enough to seek new knowledge and endure the rigorous methods of science”
The book has three parts: Space, The Earth, and Life, which summons this all. If there’s still a curious child in you who wants to know the backstage experiences/problems, Indian scientists have encountered and not just that but some quite a warm story which will show what it meant to be part of some great scientific program. Then go grab a copy.
My story with this book:
In 2012 (through a science camp) I received this book; I was already intrigued by its cover. It had everything to make me curious the blue planet surrounded by satellite figures and many more and one name A.P.J Abdul Kalam already making it big. And it’s my “guilty pleasure” that sometimes I judge a book by its cover. One shouldn’t though.
Besides some scientific phenomena and applications. In between, there were some stories that Kalam Ji shared. And just to add this point that
you never know, lightning could strike (William Parrish)
This book introduced me to many spaces programs and their mission and became the very first reason because of which I got an interest in satellite applications (which now I’m pursuing as my higher studies). You got to read it if you want to find it all.
One story by Kalam Ji which really show the dedication and love of Indian scientists towards their projects and I quote:
“This is my first visit to the SHAR center after it has been named after Prof. Satish Dhawan, one of the greatest sons of our country… As I stand here today, many events come back to me. It was on 9 October 1971 that the country witnessed the first-ever launch of a sounding rocket-125mm in diameter-from SHAR…At every stage, the SLV-3 team was blessed with some extraordinary courageous people. Shri Sivakaminathan was bringing the C-band transponder from Trivandrum to SHAR for integration with SLV-3. The SLV-3 launch schedule was dependent on the arrival and integration of this equipment. On the landing at the Madras airport, the aircraft in which Sivakami was traveling skidded and overshot the runway. Dense Smoke engulfed the aircraft. Everyone jumped out of the aircraft through the emergency exit and desperately fought to save themselves- all except Sivakami who stayed in the aircraft till he removed the Transponder from his baggage. He was among the last few persons to emerge from the smoke and he was holding the transponder close to his chest. This was the level of dedication and attachment to the project because people owned this project…”
Checkout more such content at: https://gogomagazine.in/category/magazine/writeups-volume-6/
4
4.5
5