Space and missile programs are huge complex projects and managing them is extremely challenging. This might interest technically inclined readers but is sure to put off readers who bought the book to get to know Kalam or to know his principles/ideas. The book covers a lot of 'behind the scene' information and technical details about India's satellite and missile program (SLV-3, Prithvi, Agni, Thrisul, Akash and Nag). There he came across a painting which depicted Tipu Sultan's rocket warfare against the British. In 1963, Kalam went to NASA facility in Maryland(USA) as part of a training program on sounding rocket launching techniques. Later he moved to Indian Space Research which was the brain child of Vikram Sarabhai. In the book we learn how Kalam started his career in Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) and was involved in the design of a hovercraft. Become one with yourself, my son! Surrender yourself to the wish of God.' Search, instead, for the true purpose of your existence. Forget this failure, as it was essential to lead you to your destined path. What you are destined to become is not revealed now but it is predetermined. You are not destined to become an Air Force pilot. 'Accept your destiny and go ahead with your life. He met Swami Sivananda after this failure and I found his words to Kalam interesting and in a way prophetic, Kalam in younger years wanted to be an officer in air force, however he couldn't clear the interview. There are instances in the where a teacher spreading social inequality is punished and force to leave the institution (school). Their locality was predominantly Muslim, but there were quite a few Hindu families too, living amicably with their Muslim neighbours. The initial chapters provides an interesting glimpse of religious harmony which existed before IndiaвЂ™s partition, the famous Shiva temple, which made Rameswaram so sacred to pilgrims, was about a ten minute walk from their house. Kalam was born in Rameswaram, a southern religious town in Tamilnadu. I loved the initial chapters of 'Wings of Fire' since it gives a vivid picture of our country during 1930-1950s. It was very engaging initially, but tended to drag a bit towards the end with lot of technical details and procedural information of his space research and missile projects.

It is the story of a boy from a humble background who went on to become a key player in Indian space research/Indian missile programs and later became the president of India.

Wings of Fire is an autography of APJ Abdul Kalam covering his early life and his work in Indian space research and missile programs. Book Review : Wings of Fire by APJ Abdul Kalam By Vishal Singh Arya

Images of wings of fire