Wings of fire - Sir APJ ABDUL KALAM Wings of fire | Page 19

despite being aware of my lack of assertiveness, which
probably came about because of my humble background.
Around this time, I made special efforts to try and
communicate with different kinds of people. There were
setbacks, disappointments and distractions, but my father’s
inspiring words anchored me in those periods of nebulous
drift.
Plate 1 (a) My father Jainulabdeen was not formally
educated, but was a man of great wisdom and
kindness. (b) Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, a close
friend of my father and the head priest of the
Rameswaram Temple.