Wings of fire - Sir APJ ABDUL KALAM Wings of fire | Page 18

seeks acceptance under the guise of science, I reject it. I
do not know how these myths evolved about planets, star
constellations, and even satellites—that they can exercise
power on human beings. The highly complicated
calculations manipulated around the precise movements of
celestial bodies, to derive highly subjective conclusions
appear illogical to me. As I see it, the Earth is the most
powerful and energetic planet. As John Milton puts it so
beautifully in Paradise Lost, Book VIII:
. . . What if the Sun
Be centre to the World, and other stars . . . . .
The planet earth, so steadfast though she seem,
In sensibly three different motions move?
Wherever you go on this planet, there is movement and
life. Even apparently inanimate things like rocks, metal,
timber, clay are full of intrinsic movement—with electrons
dancing around each nucleus. This motion originates in
their response to the confinement imposed on them by the
nucleus, by means of electric forces which try to hold them
as close as possible. Electrons, just like any individual with
a certain amount of energy, detest confinement. The tighter
the electrons are held by the nucleus, the higher their orbital
velocity will be: in fact, the confinement of electrons in an
atom results in enormous velocities of about 1000 km per
second! These high velocities make the atom appear a
rigid sphere, just as a fast-moving fan appears like a disc. It
is very difficult to compress atoms more strongly—thus
giving matter its familiar solid aspect. Everything solid,
thus, contains much empty space within and everything
stationary contains great movement within. It is as though
the great dance of Shiva is being performed on earth
during every moment of our existence.
When I joined the B.Sc. degree course at St.Joseph’s, I
was unaware of any other option for higher education. Nor
did I have any information about career opportunities
available to a student of science. Only after obtaining a
B.Sc. did I realise that physics was not my subject. I had to
go into engineering to realise my dreams. I could have
joined the Engineering course long ago, right after finishing
my Intermediate course. Better late than never, I told myself
as I made the detour, applying for admission into the
Madras Institute of Technology (MIT), regarded as the
crown jewel of technical education in South India at that
time.
I managed to be on the list of selected candidates, but
admission to this prestigious institution was an expensive
affair. Around a thousand rupees was required, and my
father could not spare that much money. At that time, my
sister, Zohara, stood behind me, mortgaging her gold
bangles and chain. I was deeply touched by her
determination to see me educated and by her faith in my
abilities. I vowed to release her bangles from mortgage
with my own earnings. The only way before me to earn
money at that point of time was to study hard and get a
scholarship. I went ahead at full steam.
What fascinated me most at MIT was the sight of two
decommissioned aircraft displayed there for the
demonstration of the various subsystems of flying
machines. I felt a strange attraction towards them, and
would sit near them long after other students had gone
back to the hostel, admiring man’s will to fly free in the sky,
like a bird. After completing my first year, when I had to opt
for a specific branch, I almost spontaneously chose
aeronautical engineering. The goal was very clear in my
mind now; I was going to fly aircraft. I was convinced of this,