My Journey: Transforming Dreams Into Actions documents the life of a young boy from Rameshwaram, who not only became a renowned scientist in India, but also held the highest post that the country could ever offer. Through the course of this book, Kalam tells his readers about key events in his life that brought him to where he is, today. Kalam doesn’t only talk about him being India’s former President, but as a boy, son, student, and scientist. Kalam’s hometown, Rameshwaram, was indeed a serene place to dwell. Kalam speaks about his dream of becoming a fighter pilot, which crashed as he was awarded the ninth position among 25 candidates, with the selected ones being the top eight. Kalam recalls his dream of flying a machine as it rises higher into the stratosphere. He tells the readers that he received two interview calls, one from the Directorate of Technical Development and Production (DTDP) and the other from the Indian Air Force, Dehradun. Kalam goes on to explain that the DTDP interview was fairly easy, but for the Air Force, he needed to have a certain level of “smartness”, apart from the qualifications and practical knowledge. After being rejected by the IAF, he went through a trying time, where he decided to move on and become a scientist. He began to work tirelessly at his job as the Senior Scientific Assistant at DTDP. Kalam also speaks about his close-knit family and the impact they had on his life. Despite his childhood full of difficulties, he was able to cope because of his highly supportive family. He also speaks briefly about the peaceful co-existence of Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism, in his village. Kalam also talks about Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and the profound impact he had on his life. Kalam also talks about his tag as the “Missile Man”, as well as his unique hairstyle.
About The Author:
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam is an author, scientist, and a former Indian President. Some of Kalam’s literary works include Turning Points: A Journey Through Challenges, Envisioning An Empowered Nation, and India 2020: A Vision For The New Millennium. Born on 15th October 1931, Kalam was raised in Rameshwaram. He finished his schooling from the Rameshwaram Elementary School. Kalam went on to pursue his undergraduate degree in Physics from St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli. He obtained his Master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the Madras Institute of Technology. Prior to serving as the President of India, Kalam worked as an aerospace engineer at the Indian Space Research Organization and the Defense Research and Development Organization. He is also known as the Missile Man of India for his immense contributions towards developing ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology. Kalam currently serves as a visiting Professor at the Indian Institute of Management Indore and the Indian Institute of Management Shillong. He has been awarded the Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, Ramanujan Award, and the Bharat Ratna.
