The document provides background information on Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the author and former President of India. It discusses his upbringing, education in physics and aerospace engineering, and key roles in India's space and missile development programs. The book "Wings of Fire" is Kalam's autobiography that recounts his struggles, failures and successes in his career. It aims to inspire readers through Kalam's story and lessons of having a vision, empowering teams, and striving for self-belief and achievement.

1. WINGS OF FIRE
AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR.APJ ABDUL KALAM

2. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 APJ Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 in Rameshwaram, Madras
 He studied Physics and Aerospace Engineering
 He worked as an Aeronautical Engineer with DRDO and ISRO
 He is popularly known as the “Missile Man of India” for his work on development of
ballistic missile and space rocket technology.
 He was elected as 11th
President of India in 2002 with the support of both the
ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Indian National Congress
 The Government of India has honoured him with some of the Highest civilian awards like:
Bharat Ratna
Padma Bhushan
Padma Vibhushan
Doctor of Engineering
Doctor of Science, etc.
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3. AUTHOR’S STYLE:
 Facts and events knitted artistically
 Reality shrouded with science
 Nothing overtly done
 Command over Language
 Eye for detailing
 Sentence formation that connects
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4. ABOUT THE BOOK
 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
 The book covers authors struggles, his failures, his success and his triumph
 The book tells us about the upbringing of author and various people that made
impact on his life
 The book tells us to have vision, create team, have self belief and make it possible
 This book also tells us about other great scientists like Vikram Sarabhai, Madhavan Nair
 The book is a treat for a person with a science or engineering background
 This book is inspirational, motivational and meticulous for every age and work group
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5. Key People who influenced Dr.Kalam
 Jainulabdeen : Father
 Ashiamma : Mother
 Zohara : Sister
 Ahmed Jainulabdeen : Relative & Brother-in-Law
 Prof.Vikram Sarabhai : Mentor of Dr.Kalam
 Prof.Satish Dhawan : Colleague
 Prof.Madhavan Nair : Colleague
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6. The book is divided into:
Orientation
Creation
Propitiation
Contemplation
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7. ORIENTATION:
 This section covers the years 1931-1963
 It covers early life of APJ Abdul Kalam, the way he remembers his
friends, relatives, teachers who influenced him makes one wonder.
 It covers his education and early travels
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8. CREATION:
 This section covers the years 1963-1980
 This section deals with Dr.kalam’s further trainings and his association
with defense and space projects, mainly SLV3
 This section has too much scientific details and introduces us to a list of
defense and space research establishments
 Here we find the stalwarts of Indian Science like Prof.Vikram Sarabhai,
Dr.Satish Dhawan, Dr.Madhavan Nair
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9. PROPITIATION:
 This section covers the years 1981-1991
 This covers with APJ Abdul Kalam moving from ISRO to Defense labs.
 It covers the story behind the names we all have heard, the SLV3,
PSLV, Akaash, Agni, Naga, Trishul and what not
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10. CONTEMPLATION:
 The last section covers with later years where APJ Abdul
Kalam is conferred with a list of awards, his contemplations,
his vsions for the country.
 This section along with epilogue also mentions of Kalam’s
VISION 2020 – of self reliance vision & technology vision.
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11. “INDIA LOST A GEM”
 Missile Man of India Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam passes away on 27 July 2015
 Kalam had a cardiac arrest while addressing students at the Indian Institute of
Management in the Meghalaya state capital, Shillong.
 He was giving speech on 'Creating a Livable Planet Earth‘
 It was not only the topic of a lecture which he had just begun to deliver before the
management students on that fateful day, but was also the subject of a book
which he could not finish in his lifetime
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12. LEARNINGS:
 Every effort in the right direction matters, even if it miniscule
 Don’t give up but believe in yourself and just do it
 Never underestimate the strength of your team, capitalize on each
members strength
 A right vision and a strong inspiration is very important to make any team
shine
 Don’t just show your team that you’ve faith in them but also inspire and
empower them to deliver
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13. “ Each individual creature on
this beautiful planet is here to
fulfill a particular role. WEARE
ALL BORN WITH A DIVINE FIRE IN
US. OUR EFFORTS SHOULD BE TO
GIVE WINGS TO THIS FIRE AND
FILL THE WORLD WITH THE GLOW
OF ITS GOODNESS.”
-WINGS OF FIRE : An Autobiography of
Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam (1999)