INTRODUCTION:

An autobiography titled Wings of Fire is written by APJ Abdul Kalam, who served as the President of India for two terms and is famous for his work as a rocket engineer and missile specialist. It tells the tales of Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Trishul, and Nag, and chronicles Kalam’s own journey from poverty and academic hardships. He was born in to a middle-class Tamil family in the island of Rameshwaram. His father had neither much formal education nor much wealth.

Kalam’s great strength lies in his understanding of himself, society, and the nature of work. He also has a mind that can practically accept anything, as he is spiritually bound and is not affected by the ordinary events of the world.

He practically applied the idea of single-minded devotion to his goal throughout his life. Kalam discussed the major aspects of his personality that transformed him from a humble and rural person to an extraordinarily talented scientist, spiritual guru, and the President of India.

Everyone has the potential to do anything they set their mind to, and each individual has the skills and abilities to perform some task. An achiever must have three things in order to be successful; first, the desire to accomplish something, second, the confidence that he can achieve it, and third, and certainly not least, the anticipation that whatever the achiever does will be successful. In Kalam's own words: “To succeed in life and achieve results, you must understand and master three mighty forces-; desire, belief, and expectation.”(1)

Contribution to Missile Technology:

Kalam’s belief in the power of science is to resolve society’s problems, and views that these problems are the result of the inefficient distribution of resources in modern society. In addition, he considers the fields of science and technology to be ideologically neutral and places a focus on the development of an entrepreneurial spirit and a scientific temperament. APJ Abdul Kalam is not just a prominent scientist, but also a writer who provokes deep thinking.

Kalam graduated from Madras Institute of Technology majoring in Aeronautical Engineering. There were disappointments and distractions but his father’s inspiring words anchored him in the periods of nebulous drift. In the words of Kalam: “He who knows others is learned, but the wise one is the one who knows himself. Learning without wisdom is of no use.”(6) After completing his studies, Kalam joined the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in 1958. He soon became involved in India's missile program, which was aimed at developing a nuclear-capable missile system. He led the team that developed the first indigenous satellite launch vehicle (SLV-III) and also oversaw the development of the Agni and Prithvi missiles. According to Kalam's 1999 statement, "... physically weary, broken psychologically, yet resolved to fully fulfill our objective of launching an Indian rocket engine on foreign land,"(4)

Kalam was closely involved in the development of India’s first indigenous satellite launch vehicle (SLV) while he was the project director. Since he was the Chief Executive of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), he also played a major part in developing many missiles for India, including Agni and Prithvi. He has also served as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development. Pokhran-II nuclear tests were conducted during this period, led by him.

Many politicians and scientists appreciated Kalam for his remarkable achievements. After the success of the Agni launch, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi said that the Agni launch is:

A major achievement in our continuing efforts to safeguard our independence and security by self-reliant means. The technology demonstrated through Agni is a reflection of our commitment to the indigenous development of advanced technologies for the nation’s defence. The country is proud of your efforts. (1)

APJ Abdul Kalam visited NASA's Langley Research Centre in Hampton, Virginia, and the Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland. He made an effort to develop the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and SLV-3 projects, both of which proved to be successful. Anup Kumar Das writes about Kalam’s leadership in his paper: "He took a leadership role in the development and launch of India's first indigenous satellite launch vehicle (SLV-3), which placed the Rohini RS-1 satellite into Earth orbit in July 1998" (5). Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Trishul, and Nag—the missiles that raised India’s repute to international reckoning as a missile power After the Agni launch, Kalam expressed the status of the DRDL as "the first time in the history of India that so many scientists affiliated with the same organisation found their names on the awards’ list" (1).

Kalam's contribution to missile technology was a significant achievement for India. The development of these missiles demonstrated India's technological capabilities and served as prevention against potential aggressors. Kalam's work in missile technology also paved the way for India's space programme, which he later became involved in. Although he is an advocate of science and technology, he is a firm believer that these fields cannot convey the identity of a country. "Science helps us to build up our outer life, but another discipline is necessary to strengthen and refine the living spirit" (5). Kalam discovers that science and technological development will help improve the economic status of a country and conveys this message through his autobiography. Kalam has contributed his part to freeing independent India’s struggle from powers that are dominating other countries of the world with their technological advancement, and Kalam shows how they are universal in attaining the highest position in a nation. They have proved one can reach heights through dedication, hard work, and interest.

Contribution to Education Technology:

Kalam believes that the purpose of an excellent educational system should be to develop a person's potential into their fullest potential as a complete person. In a culture that has attained enlightenment, a changed human being not only serves as a great asset for a specific society alone but also for the whole of the universe. The goal of education should be to create a society without boundaries. "Enlightened society has three components. One is education with a value system, two is religion transforming into a spiritual force, and three is economic development.'' (10)

Through the course of our history, we have consistently been vanquished by this adversary inside. Every time our commitment to preserving our identity while embracing our differences put us in jeopardy, we experienced a setback. Because of this, the western countries were able to govern us for 200 years. They couldn't have forced us into slavery if we had been unified, accepting of many cultures, and cooperative. There were a number of cultural factors that led to our weakness.

Kalam understood that technological advances in the classroom may improve student performance and increase enrolment rates. He was the driving force behind the creation of a computer-based functional literacy program, which was one of the numerous projects that he spearheaded to advance the use of technology in educational settings. He thought that technology might be utilized to promote access to education and improve educational results, both of which were important for India's growth.

In India, where gaining access to a decent education is still a challenge, Kalam's efforts to promote technology for education were very important.

In addition to being a scientist, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was also an educator who firmly believed in the ability of both education and technology to change mankind. Over the course of his whole life, Kalam made it his mission to advance both learning and technology, particularly in the areas of science and technology. In his book titled Wings of Fire, Abdul Kalam speaks at length about his time spent working as a teacher as well as his ideas on how technology may be used to transform the educational system.

The contributions that Kalam has made to education and technology may be broken down into two primary categories: the first is the promotion of science and technology education, and the second is the use of technology to improve the learning experience. He presents his sense of hard work:

That night, I remained at the drawing board, skipping dinner. Next morning, I took only an hour’s break to freshen up and eat a little food. On Sunday morning, I was very near completion, when suddenly I felt someone else’s presence in the room. Prof. Srinivasan was watching me from a distance. Coming straight from the gymkhana, he was still in his tennis outfit and had dropped into see my progress. After examining my work, Prof. Srinivasan hugged me affectionately and patted my back in appreciation (4)

This incident shows that Kalam was very hard working towards his dream. Anup Kumar Das, in his research paper, discloses about Kalam’s hard work, "Kalam completed his school education at Ramanathapuram Schwartz High School, where he showed distinction as a hardworking student with special interest in mathematics" (5). Kalam was of the opinion that a quality education in the sciences and technologies was essential to the growth of India and that all young people should have access to such an education. He stated, "I think that teaching is the most crucial job on the planet for civilization."(6) He argued in favour of a curriculum that combined practical knowledge with academic understanding and emphasized the value of experimental learning. Kalam had the belief that education should not be exclusive and should be available to everyone, particularly to females and children who come from impoverished situations.

Kalam was also aware of the potential that technology has to change the educational environment. He explains in his book Wings of Fire how he improved his lectures by making use of various multimedia resources, such as films and slide projectors, to keep his pupils interested in what he had to say. He was a pioneer in the use of computers and saw their potential to transform education. Kalam thought that technology might increase learning's interactivity, individualization, and accessibility. The outgoing Indian president praised him, saying, "It is a testimony to your devotion, industriousness, and creativity."(9) He envisioned a future in which all students would have access to digital tools and materials, and where instructors would be able to tailor their lessons to the specific requirements of their students via the use of technology.

India has taken steps towards realising Kalam's vision for education technology through programmes like the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) and the Digital India campaign, which aim to increase digital literacy and improve educational outcomes through the use of technology. NPTEL is a website that offers free courses in engineering, science, and the humanities, and Digital India is a government effort that aims to transform India into a knowledge-based society and economy. These efforts are a reflection of Kalam's idea that technology can be utilised to make education more accessible to everyone and to empower them.

In conclusion, Kalam did a lot to improve education technology, and his work is still felt in India's education system today. His goal of improving science and technology education and changing education through the use of technology is still important today, and it continues to inspire teachers and decision-makers all over the world. According to Kalam, technology might help make education more widely available, open, and efficient. Education is the key to realising human ability. His contributions to educational technology provide witness to his dedication to creating an inclusive, knowledge-based society.

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, Wings of Fire provides an interesting viewpoint on the topics of globalisation and localization, as well as the manner in which these competing forces interact with one another in the context of India. The path that Kalam travelled may serve as a source of motivation for people and communities that are striving to manage the challenges of a globalised world while retaining a strong sense of local identity and culture. Kalam was able to accomplish great success in his life by using both national and international resources, and his legacy continues to encourage and inspire individuals all across the globe to pursue excellence and have a beneficial influence on their communities. In his autobiography, Kalam shares his realisation that the advancement of a nation's scientific and technological capabilities would contribute to the rise in that nation's standard of living, as well as the way that he came to this conclusion. "We should all create a nation that is one of the best places to live on this earth and that brings smiles to a billion faces". (10) His fame among India's student community is largely attributable to his ability to speak without moving an inch.

REFERENCES:

1. Abdul Kalam, A.P.J., Wings of Fire: An Autobiography, Hyderabad: University Press,

2. Bates, E. Stuart. Inside Out: An Introduction to Autobiography. Oxford: Basil Blackwell,

3. brainyquote.com/quotes/pele_737774?src=t_success. Accessed Apr. 2, 2023.

4. Channawar, Ashish. "Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam: From newspaper boy to President—Not Less Than an Avtar of the God in Kaliyuga!" Rumbling of My Soul. Ashish Channawar, akodalikar.wordpress.com. Accessed April 4, 2023.

5. Das, Anup Kumar. "A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: The People’s President." DREAM 2047, October 2015: 36–32. Print.

6. Iyengar, K.R. Srinivasa. Indian writing in English New Delhi: Sterling Publishing House, 1989.

7. Majumdar, A.K., "Portrait of an Indian Intellectual," Quest, Sept.–Oct. 1979.

8. Ramanathan, R. Who Is Kalam?: A Good Human Being Konark Publishers, 2003.

9. Sharma, Mahesh, et al., Pride of the Nation: Dr. P. J. Abdul Kala:. Diamond Pocket Books, 2004.

10. Whitehead, A.N. The Aims of Education and Other Essays London: Ernost Benn Ltd.,

Received on 13.05.2023 Modified on 22.05.2023

Res. J. Humanities and Social Sciences. 2023;14(2):101-104.

DOI: 10.52711/2321-5828.2023.00021