My Tribute to Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on His Birth Anniversary

Dreaming Big, Teaching Always: 

My Tribute to Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on His Birth Anniversary

Every October 15 is more than a date to me — it is a celebration of a life that exemplified hope, humility, curiosity, and service. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is not just a figure of national pride, but my personal role model — a scientist who never forgot that he was also a teacher, a dreamer who grounded ambition in reason, and a leader who always wore a gentle smile. As someone who shares his love for education, I reflect today on his vision for India, his inspirational story, and the influence Wings of Fire had on me and millions.

A Boy from Rameswaram, a Vision for India:

Dr. Kalam’s life began modestly in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, born on October 15, 1931, to a family of limited means. To support his studies, he sold newspapers in his youth — yet even then, his dreams soared beyond his surroundings. In Wings of Fire, he narrates how he walked long distances to school, memorized lessons by moonlight, and persisted despite obstacles. His journey took him through physics and aeronautical engineering to the corridors of DRDO, ISRO, and India’s missile programs. He played key roles in launching the SLV-III satellite mission, the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (developing Agni, Prithvi, etc.), and co-ordinating India’s nuclear tests in 1998. Yet his ambitions were not merely technical or nationalistic — he held a sweeping dream for India itself.

Vision 2020: A Developed India

Dr. Kalam’s India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium, co-written with Y. S. Rajan in 1998, laid out a blueprint for transforming India into a developed nation by 2020. He envisioned an India where rural-urban divides shrink, education and healthcare reach every citizen, technology empowers villages, and leadership is transparent and ethical. Though not all his goals were realized, his vision continues to guide our progress and policies.

Wings of Fire: Igniting Millions of Dreams:

For me, Wings of Fire was not just an autobiography — it was a mirror, a map, and a challenge. It chronicled Kalam’s early struggles, mentors, failures, victories, and his unwavering belief in the human spirit. From that book I learned perseverance in adversity, humility with ambition, and the power of dreams. His famous words — 'Dreams are not what you see in sleep; dreams are those that don’t let you sleep' — continue to ignite countless minds.

Memories: Hearing Him in Chennai, 2012:

In 2012, Loyola College, Chennai, hosted an economics symposium where Dr. Kalam was the guest speaker. I had the privilege of hearing him up close as I was in my Under Graduation there, majoring in the English Literature. His calm yet electrifying presence, his humor, and his respect for every student deeply moved me. That day reaffirmed my purpose as a teacher — not just to teach lessons, but to inspire curiosity and confidence.

The People's President, a Teacher to the Last Breath:

In 2002, Dr. Kalam became India’s 11th President. Yet he remained 'People’s President' — humble, approachable, and deeply connected with students and citizens. Even after his presidency, he returned to teaching with undiminished enthusiasm. On July 27, 2015, while delivering a lecture at IIM Shillong, he collapsed and passed away doing what he loved most — teaching. It was truly a teacher’s death.

Why He Remains My North Star:

Dr. Kalam was a dreamer with discipline, a teacher at heart, and a leader without ego. His India 2020 vision continues to inspire inclusive, equitable progress. On this birth anniversary, I renew my commitment as a teacher to carry forward his spirit — to ignite young minds, to teach with purpose, and to dream with courage. May every student I meet feel that same spark he kindled in millions.

Happy Birthday Legend, one of my motivators, my inspirations, and my guides.

- Ashok's Musings

From Student to Teacher: Carrying Forward a Legacy of Change - My Tryst with This Noble Profession

From Student to Teacher: Carrying Forward a Legacy of Change. 

My Tryst with This Noble Profession

On this day of remembering the enormous impact that teachers have on our lives, I cannot help but reflect on how their guidance shapes not just individuals, but entire societies. A good teacher does more than impart knowledge—they instill values, nurture confidence, and spark curiosity. Their influence goes far beyond the classroom, leaving imprints that continue to guide us in the choices we make, the paths we follow, and the people we become. In many ways, teachers are the unseen architects of a more compassionate and enlightened society.

For me, this journey has been deeply personal. From my early school days, in my hometown in Andhra Pradesh and in Salem, Tamil Nadu, I looked up to teachers who patiently nurtured my love for learning. 

In my college life at the great Loyola and Presidency, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, my professors expanded my horizons, introducing me to new worlds of thought and inspiring me to question, explore, and grow. 

And at the university level at Madras University, Chennai and now at Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, my professors, supervisors and mentors not only challenged me academically but also encouraged me to see teaching as a calling—a way to give back, to share knowledge, and to inspire others just as I had been inspired.

I also owe a lot to the knowledge I gained through those not in the profession, but showcased and guided me through their exceptional skills about patience, consistency, hard work, sacrifices and moving forward with passion, like my maternal grandmother and a few of my aunts and uncles.

And how can I forget about the impactful role the books, the magazines, the newspapers, Google, YouTube, ChatGPT and other technological apps, had in my understanding of this large universe that we all exist in. 

It is because of these teachers that I chose to become one myself. Their encouragement and example gave me the conviction that teaching is not just a profession, but a responsibility—to shape minds, to touch lives, and to bring about small yet definite changes that ripple outward. Today, as I stand before my own students, I carry forward the legacy of my teachers with a heart full of gratitude, determined to contribute, in my own way, to building a more thoughtful, humane, and beautiful society as I continue to teach for the past 6+ years.

Happy Teacher's Day, and may every teacher find peace, happiness and joy in their life.