"Wings of Fire" by APJ Abdul Kalam
When it comes to ambition, the Indian context is quite ambivalent. On one hand, a society that treasures humility is often thought to shun the whiff of overt ambition. Along the same lines, the degree to which personal success is valued and heralded by the same society is also a question of wonder.
Within the words of APJ Abdul Kalam, this ambiguity is pronounced in a fashion that makes for excellent reading.
An Indian Flavour to Science
In his autobiography, Kalam often intersperses his scientific endeavours through the lens of faith. This tendency is an intriguing one, to say the least.
Western individuals of scientific temperament appear to almost always draw a clear-cut line demarcating the realms of faith and reason, electing to keep the two apart. My reading of the likes of Richard Dawkins and Neil deGrasse Tyson highlights this perspective. However, Kalam appears to fuse the two in his own negotiation with his faith and vocation. In doing so, he arguably lends the book its Indian flavour of plurality.
Aspirational Humility
Reading the book, I was constantly reminded of the importance of aspiration. In particular, Kalam’s humble beginnings powered primarily through a hunt for knowledge and aided through good mentors and teachers was a strong takeaway.
The simplicity he heralded even in the decades after this book was written will always take me by some shock, particularly in the modern frenzy for status and excess.
However, what is more vital towards placing the significance of this autobiography, despite its frequent detours to technical language and overtly positive perspectives, is the lingering tone of curious wonder which Kalam makes his guiding muse.
Remain curious and do read this book in tandem with other works on science and engineering to widen the horizons of your neurons. On that note, if you click on the follow button you will also widen the reach of this newsletter. Feel free to do so and to share it with your peers. Keep reading and keep thinking.