Wings of fire - Sir APJ ABDUL KALAM Wings of fire | Page 141

Epilogue
This book is interwoven with my deep involvement with
India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle SLV-3 and Agni
Programmes, an involvement which eventually led to my
participation in the recent important national event related
to the nuclear tests in May, 1998. I have had the great
opportunity and honour of working with three scientific
establishments— Space, Defence Research and Atomic
Energy. I found, while working in these establishments, that
the best of human beings and the best of innovative minds
were available in plenty. One feature common to all three
establishments, is that the scientists and technologists
were never afraid of failures during their missions. Failures
contain within themselves the seeds of further learning
which can lead to better technology, and eventually, to a
high level of success. These people were also great
dreamers and their dreams finally culminated in
spectacular achievements. I feel that if we consider the
combined technological strength of all these scientific
institutions, it would certainly be comparable to the best
found anywhere in the world. Above all, I have had the
opportunity of working with the great visionaries of the
nation, namely Prof. Vikram Sarabhai, Prof. Satish Dhawan
and Dr Brahm Prakash, each of whom have greatly
enriched my life.
A nation needs both economic prosperity and strong
security for growth and development. Our Self Reliance
Mission in Defence System 1995– 2005 will provide the
Armed Forces with a state-of-the-art competitive weapons
system. The Technology Vision – 2020 plan will put into
place certain schemes and plans for the economic growth
and prosperity of the nation. These two plans have evolved
out of the nation’s dreams. I