This book review summarizes the autobiography of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam titled "Wings of Fire". It describes Kalam's early life growing up in Rameshwaram, India and his career in the Indian space program and as the 11th President of India. The autobiography covers Kalam's role in developing India's satellite and missile programs and technologies. It also highlights Kalam's positive thinking and ability to overcome challenges through hard work and dedication.

1. BOOK REVIEW

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3. • TITLE : WINGS OF FIRE
• AUTHOR : DR. A P J ABDUL KALAM
• PUBLISHER : UNIVERSITIES PRESS
• PUBLICATION YEAR : 1 JANUARY 1999
• AVABILITY : WIDELY AVAILABLE
• PAGE : 180

4. THE WINGS OF FIRE
An Autobiography of Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam

5. INTRODUCTION
• Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam is a renowned indian
scientist who went on to 11th president of
india(2002-2007).
• He is very well known across india and he is
recipient of india’s three highest civilians
awards – Padma bhusan, padma vibhusan,
bharat ratna.

6. • WINGS OF FIRE is an autobiography of Dr. A P J
Abdul kalam written jointly by Abdul kalam
and arun tiwari.
• It covers the life of Abdul Kalam before he
became president of India.

7. BOOK REVIEW
• The book covers early life of abdul kalam and his work in
indian space research and missile programs.
• It is a story of a boy from a humble background and
became the key player in indian space research and missile
programs and became the president of india.
• The initial chapters of the WINGS OF FIRE gives vivid picture
of india in 1930 – 1950.

8. • Kalam was born in rameshwaram a religious
town in tamilnadu.
• The initial chapters provides glimpse of
religious harmony which exist before partition
of india.
• Kalam in younger years wanted to be an air
force officer, however he couldn’t clear the
interview.
• He met swami sivananda after his failure his
words to kalam is interesting and prophetic.

9. • Sivananda says “ Accept your destiny and go
ahead with your life. you are not destined to
become an air force pilot. What you are
destined to become is not revealed now but it
is predetermined. Forget this failure, as it was
essential to lead you to your destiny path.
Search, instead, for the true purpose of your
existence. Become one with yourself, my son !
Surrender your self to the wish of god. “

10. • In the book, how Kalam started his career in
Aeronautical Development Establishment
(ADE) and was involved in the design of a
hovercraft is described.
• Later he moved to Indian Space Research
which was the brain child of Vikram Sarabhai.
• In 1963, Kalam went to NASA facility in
Maryland(USA) as part of a training program
on sounding rocket launching techniques.
There he came across a painting which
depicted Tipu Sultan’s rocket warfare against
the Britishers.

11. This is the picture which Abdul Kalam saw in
NASA.

12. • 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).
• Space and missile programs are huge complex
projects and managing them is extremely
challenging. The book does give a glimpse of
the participatory management technique
adopted by Kalam, but at the same time it
doesn’t go into details.

13. • Kalam is a poet and is a huge fan of poems.
The book contains many of his own poems
and his favourite poems. Here is an example,
– Do not look at Agni
as an entity directed upward
to deter the ominous
or exhibit your might.
It is fire in the heart of an Indian.
Do not even give it
the form of a missile
as it clings to the
burning pride of this nation
and thus is bright.

14. • One of the things that stands out throughout
the book is Kalam’s positive thinking. He held
many high ranking positions in various
organizations.
• In the book he rarely mentions anything about
lethargy/corruption of bureaucracy or
politicians. The secret to his success seems to
be his ability to ignore negative things around
him.
• The book also gives a clue to his popularity in
India. Kalam is a simple, secular, inspiring
humanitarian.