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DELHI, INDIA, June 11, 2002: In his first attempt, he failed the Indian Air Force pilot test. Today, he’s all set to become supreme commander of all the armed forces. Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Azad, age 71, former principal scientific advisor to the prime minister, is a man of few words. His is an amazing story, which begins as a young boy selling newspapers at Rameshwaram station and is now likely to continue in the corridors of Rashtrapati Bhavan. India’s missile man is a reluctant interviewee. When Bombay Times caught up with him a few months ago, his first reaction was: “Why me?” The 30-minute drive from the airport to his lecture venue went in persuading him to talk, after which he agreed. The nuclear man is a simple person — he doesn’t have TV at home, refuses to read newspapers and is only accessible via the net. He never fails to tell his host not to pay for his airfare since he can avail of free air travel, thanks to his Bharat Ratna status, a high state honor. The father of the Indian missile program, Kalam has been busy with his new passion — teaching. “I want to ignite young minds, which are a powerful resource,” he says. As a boy, Kalam was enthralled by the skies. “I will fly one day,” he told his mother. He was not only the first boy from Rameshwaram to fly, he also took India’s defense capability to new heights. “Dream, dream, dream. Dreams are important, dreams work,” he told Mumbai students. This dream has surely come true.

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