The True Grandfather of Nation

Way back in 2003, I was 20 years, young and energetic than now!. 3rd year of my college. I used to put lot of coconut oil and comb my hair is such way where my fellow friends comment me " do u think you are an Abdul kalam".!. I have been attracted to this great person first by his hair style as I too had something similar like him. But that similarity has a sync with my budgetary thinking that I used to cut my hair when I feel that I can't see anything as when it falls over my eyes. That was a time in newspapers showing newses about Abdul kalam for his achievements in ISRO. Then some of my professors told me the story about Abdul kalam. Then the curiosity to know more about him raised. I came to know about his Autobiography " The Wings of Fire" has released which received a great reception among youngsters. And some of the friends told me that the book is available in college library for reading, but you can't take it to home. During my lunch break after finishing the lunch I used to go and try to get the book. But I never get as always someone picks before I go. And there were two editions one on Tamil and English too. English version is always available but as I am not interested to read it in English where my ability to understand the language was not good. So I always seek to get the Tamil version. But as like me my fellow friends were!!. So demand always High.!..Some will skip lunch or the class hour before lunch to get the book.!

Then curiosity raises as I wasn't get every time I try. I often think what is there in that book?! why people are always picking this book where I won't get any chance to read it. These kind of thoughts will rattle in my mind. Then finally the day came after a month struggle. I went to library as usual on my time.! I asked the librarian for the book. He said it is available. take it. The amount of excitement raised like anything.

Finally the book is in my hand. Achieving something after a long struggle feels amazing.! I can see a black and white cover photo of Mr.kalam with the title name and the authors names over the cover. I still remembers the scene how I received that book in my hand, the level of excitement and how I walked like where I got elected as a CM of the State..! and where I sit and opened that book, and the experience of first reading..Such a memorable experience.. Thanks to all the fellow friends who helped me for such high adrenaline curiosity.

I remember that I spend sometime on the cover page itself. I dived deep into the title first. Agni sirakukal...The wings of fire... what an imagination..which exactly suitable for his autobiography.
how come a wings survives if it catches fire?. but he survived. how come a wings can't became ashes when it catches fire?! The title provoked me that something there inside. When I started reading, I understood that he set an example and broken that the wings can survive ever if it catches fire. Something like phoenix birds.. And even those wings can use that fire as a stimulant for it is productiveness of flying high. High means to reach the Rashtrapathy Bhavan.

The story of his childhood was narrated in a way where I was roaming with him in the streets of Rameshwaram. the seashore town. And the photos of his house taken me to my childhood neighbour Pasitha akka house. Kalam to had a life which somehow I had with a Muslim family during my childhood in my mother's village. This is the another reason that I moved into the book. I enjoyed reading till his life with rocket starts in the book. Then I couldn't able to connect and understand much as it was more about rocket science and the happenings in and out of ISRO.

But today somehow I can able to understand about his book and his life and relate things as I got a bit maturity!. during the flow of the book he made very strong influential, inspirational statements which I always keep telling to myself whenever i feel down and try to implement on my life. Then a year later when I got a job I bought wings of fire for my own. I did read again. craved those underlined words of his life into my heart. His words about productive dreams, face the humiliations are helping me even today whenever I needed.

Yesterday when I woke up he slept..permanently..I felt very sad. And now feel like going Rameshwaram for his final journey and pays tribute. But I can't. But will surely go oneday and walk the streets and the boat areas where the wings of fire ignited. I never felt so sad when my two grandfathers passed away. But now I feel sad because this grandfather of the nation made a difference by setting a example throughout his living and influenced me in a great way for my current life.

RIP.. ABJ...You will be with us. The Nation salutes his true grandfather.