Whenever life compels you to give up, remember India's 'Missile Man,' Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Despite enduring immense hardships, the smile on his face never faded.
Here are some facets of his life that teach us to keep moving forward, no matter the circumstances:
The Newspaper-Selling Child: Born into a very humble family in Rameswaram, Kalam Sahib witnessed severe struggle early in his childhood. To fund his education, he would wake up in the biting cold of the early morning to deliver newspapers door-to-door. Yet, instead of cursing his fate, he placed his faith in his hard work and continued to smile.
A Shattered Dream: His greatest dream was not to become a scientist, but a 'fighter pilot.' He missed out on joining the Air Force by a mere one spot during the interview process. He was heartbroken, but he eventually accepted this—his greatest defeat. He realized that destiny had something far greater in store for him.
Leadership Lessons from Failure: In 1979, when the launch of India's first satellite (SLV-3) failed and plunged into the ocean, Kalam Sahib was deeply despondent. However, his boss, Satish Dhawan, took full personal responsibility for the failure. Exactly one year later, when the mission succeeded, Dhawan Sahib gave the entire credit to Kalam Ji and his team. This incident shaped him into a truly great leader.
The "Ascetic" of Rashtrapati Bhawan: Even after becoming the President of the nation, his simplicity remained unchanged. When personal relatives visited him at Rashtraopati Bhavan, he paid the entire bill for their accommodation and meals out of his own pocket, rather than drawing from the public exchequer.
A Teacher Until His Last Breath: He always wished to be remembered by the world primarily as a teacher. In 2015, he breathed his last while doing exactly that - teaching students in Shillong.
His life teachers us that no matter how monumental the challenges may seem, if you possess the ability to smile amidst a dversity, you can change the world. Therefore, never give up!
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