Quote of the Day by APJ Abdul Kalam: Potentially one of the most striking things about the late APJ Abdul Kalam was not just his sheer excellence and intelligence, but the unwavering humility with which he presented himself. His monikers ‘Missile Man of India’ and the ‘People’s President’ are honestly all the markers one needs to understand the grandeur of his journey across aerospace and politics. Yet, to the children of the country, he was always ‘Kalam chacha’, inspiring them with his evergreen words of wisdom – something people hold close to their hearts even today – a shining explanation of why he continues to be among India’s most beloved public figures, even over a decade after his demise.
Born to Jainulabdeen Marakayar and Ashiamma in Rameswaram on October 15, 1931, Kalam’s trajectory is goosebump-inducing. From selling newspapers as a young boy to eventually becoming a key figure in India’s aerospace sector, one factor which defined his journey more than discipline, was his commitment to national progress. His contributions to organisations like ISRO and DRDO paved the way for his tenure as the 11th President of India. He passed away on July 27, 2015, at the age of 83. Above all, he was selfless enough to share the exact philosophies that enabled him to achieve these heights, every step of the way.
It All Starts in the Minds
“Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action.”
Living your life aimlessly is not living at all – it is mere survival. And when the youth of the country is merely attempting to make it from one point to the next, Dr. Kalam’s evergreen goal of national progress, essentially stands halted. Which is why, every opportunity he got, he tried to inspire the youth to dream – and dream big! Because once a desire exists in your thoughts as a dream, some action in pursuit of it is bound to follow – it is only a matter of time.
Attitude Adjustment
“All birds find shelter during a rain. But eagle avoids rain by flying above the clouds. Problems are common, but attitude makes the difference.”
While urging children and impressionable minds to dream big for themselves was among Dr. Kalam’s most joyous pursuits, he also made sure to not fan generations of delusional adults. Over the course of his writings and many public interactions, he had been rather vocal about his own struggles as a means of indicating that problems were as much a part of life as living was. There is nothing anybody can do to never face any issue in their life – but as Dr. Kalam puts it here, the difference between a bird and an eagle in a storm, is just a matter of their perseverance. Being helplessly caught up in a storm or striving to outrun it, is a choice in most cases. Dr. Kalam’s advice was to be the eagle.
APJ Abdul Kalam Formula for Success
“If four things are followed – having a great aim, acquiring knowledge, hard work, and perseverance – then anything can be achieved.”
Sometimes, the mantra for success is really as simple and as boring as Dr. Kalam puts it across here. And the four variables are pretty straightforward. Have a set goal – not a vague one; educate yourself in the best way to approach it so that you deserve the spot you’re aiming for; begin working towards it and pause if need be, but don’t quit. These four variables, as per Dr. Kalam, is the foolproof blueprint to achieve success, no matter the context.
Reality Check
“I was willing to accept what I couldn’t change.”
As mentioned, for however encouraging Dr. Kalam was, he would never push absolutely anyone towards delusion. This quote of his amplifies how there will inadvertently be factors in your journey presenting themselves as hurdles. Attempt to change the ones you can and simply work around the one’s you can’t. The pursuit for greatness never stops, but it must be rooted in realism.
People’s Person
“It is very easy to defeat someone, but it is very hard to win someone.”
The point of this quote from Dr. Kalam is rather clear – compete only with yourself. Aiming to defeat a particular person can feel like a concrete goal, but he believed it was the easy way out. Joy over someone’s defeat, as per him, was no match to the joy of winning over the person themself. A clear equation, given how big a proponent he was of the idea of the collective good.