Wings of Fire: An Autobiography
Once upon a time, there lived a boy named… Now, I want to actually put my name here, but unfortunately, I have not achieved anything like this boy, so I will talk about my story some other day.
The Name I Never Forgot
Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam—I memorized this name by repeating it several times during my school prayers after hearing about him around 2015 or earlier.
As a kid, I would often stare at the sky, watching the red light from airplanes, and dream of becoming a pilot. Then, I wanted to be an astronaut. Later, I wished to be a scientist. I even looked at wasted vegetables and thought, “Why not make a car engine that runs on them?” To my surprise, my parents told me that someone had already turned such ideas into reality. That day, in anger, I tore the newspaper dramatically. But one thing never changed—I never stopped dreaming.
Meeting the Missile Man Through Words
I first heard about the Missile Man of India and his autobiography Wings of Fire (Agni Siragugal). I instantly decided to read it, but it was not available in the local library.
Still, his words found their way to me. Quotes from Dr. Kalam echoed everywhere—on stages, in classrooms, in speeches. One line stood out the most:
Dream is not that which you see while sleeping; it is something that does not let you sleep.
Each time I had an idea that kept me awake, I thought of this line. Even my friend brought it up once in a random conversation, and we ended up discussing it for several minutes.
And then it hit me: If a boy from the southern tip of India can inspire millions of young minds with his achievements, why can’t we?
My First Steps into Wings of Fire
When I finally got the book, I was a little disappointed at first—it wasn’t written by APJ himself. But after a few pages, that feeling faded away. It felt like his voice, his journey, his heart was right there in the pages.
I could relate to so much—having good teachers, going through failures like the SLV-3 mission, and pushing through hard times.
The Realizations Along the Way
I will admit, sometimes the book felt a little boring—maybe I was not in the right mindset. There were days when I could not read further. But pushing through taught me something even more important:
💡 Key Realizations
- Greatness does not happen overnight.
- Dr. Kalam worked for decades, brick by brick, before becoming who he was.
- Success is a journey, not a shortcut.
By the time I reached the end, I was blown away. Without spoiling anything, I will just say—it gave me hope. Hope that even if it takes longer than I expect, I can still become the best version of myself as long as I hold on to my beliefs.
Why You Should Read Wings of Fire
I would recommend this book to every young mind for two powerful reasons:
1. It is a truly inspiring experience.
2. It teaches priceless qualities—teamwork, goal-setting, and perseverance.
P.S: Don’t stop dreaming—I’m not either. Let’s see where it takes us after 5, 10, or even 20 years. You can also share your experience or thoughts about my blog by clicking the button below. I’d really appreciate it 🙂