Five years ago, during this time, when Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam passed away, it felt as if India was orphaned. The sadness was so overwhelming that deep down it felt like losing someone very close. Millions went through a similar feeling.
From selling newspapers as a child to support his family, to becoming India’s leading space scientist to finally becoming the country’s 11th President and a world leader and then settling as a teacher for schools and universities, never before the country witnessed power, influence, exemplary modesty and kindness in the same friendly frame as was in the case of Dr. Kalam (after Gandhi probably).
At his 70s and 80s, he was a youth icon! He was adored by adults and children alike. He was revered by the scientific community and respected by all in a political system where people were usually at constant loggerheads with each other.
On his 5th death anniversary, I felt an urge to revisit this great man’s life and thought it would be apt to share some of the hidden treasures he tried to give us through his highly inspiring quotes.
1. “Dream is not what you see in sleep. Dream is something that doesn’t let you sleep.”
Dr. Kalam was known to be one of the greatest visionaries and achievers of the world. He had a deep understanding of the dynamics of goals, dreams and ambitions which can be of somewhat complicated nature (look around – how many people say they want to achieve something but that desire is not matched by their actions).
