Name of the Writer –
A.P.J Abdul Kalam
SUMMARY
The chapter in “Wings of Fire” provides an insightful account of how Abdul Kalam’s childhood prepared him to become a successful scientist and president in the future. It is evident that his upbringing played a significant role in shaping his personality and beliefs. Kalam was born into a middle-class Muslim family with three brothers and one sister. His childhood home was ancestral and his parents believed in simple living, providing all the essential necessities to their family.
Despite having no formal education, Kalam’s parents instilled in him and his siblings values such as self-discipline and honesty. Their secular mindset was also evident in their participation in Hindu festivities and Kalam’s exposure to tales from the Ramayana and the Prophet Muhammad. His family believed in secularism and encouraged him to mingle with children from other communities.
Kalam’s first job was as a helping hand to his cousin, who distributed newspapers in Rameswaram. He also had three close friends, including Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindam, and Sivaprakash. However, in the fifth standard, a new teacher asked him not to sit in the front row with high-caste Brahmin boys, due to Kalam’s distinct Muslim identity. This led to Kalam being moved to the backbench, which made him and his friend Ramanandha very sad. Ramanandha’s father, a Hindu priest, immediately summoned the teacher and demanded an apology for his ill-behavior towards the children. The young teacher apologized and reformed his behavior, treating everyone equally from then on, regardless of caste or creed.
Kalam’s science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, was an orthodox Hindu Brahmin but treated all his students with equality. On one occasion, Mr. Iyer invited Kalam to his home for a meal, but his wife refused to serve Kalam or let him sit inside her kitchen. Mr. Iyer served the meal to Kalam and sat next to him, while his wife observed from behind the kitchen door. After finishing the meal, Mr. Iyer’s wife served Kalam with her own hands and let him sit inside her kitchen during the following weekend’s dinner.
After the second world war ended, Kalam asked his father for permission to study in Ramanathapuram. His father knew that Kalam needed to go away to grow up, so he permitted him. He believed in giving his children love, but not forcing his thoughts on them.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Abdul Kalam’s upbringing played a significant role in shaping his personality and beliefs. His family’s secular mindset and the lessons taught by his parents instilled values of self-discipline and honesty in him and his siblings. Kalam’s childhood experiences, including his encounters with communal discrimination and his interaction with people from different faiths, helped him develop a strong sense of social equality and secularism. His teacher’s behavior towards him despite their differences also made a deep impression on him. Kalam’s childhood prepared him to become a great leader and a respected scientist in the future.
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