Turning Points - Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam

Reviewer’s Note:

Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam- A name that needs no introduction. The missile man of India, someone who devoted himself selflessly for our Nation's welfare, and thus gained respect, not just in our homeland but worldwide.

"2020" for Kalam Sir was not just a year. For him, it was his vision. A vision to see his beloved Nation become a developed Nation. However, seeing how 2020 is going and the state in which India is right now, I wonder what he would have felt if he was present with us today.

Even though he is not here, he continues to make a difference with the pearls of wisdom he has left behind in his books.

A true inspiration, who led by example, is what Dr. Kalam Sir is to me, and billions of "his people". I don't think anybody could ever be capable to "review" his thoughts, but still, here's a small effort to introduce you, our readers, to this Gem, if you haven't already read any of his writings.

Book Review/Summary:

" The ignited mind of the youth is

the most powerful resource

on the earth, above the earth

and under the earth "

Dr. Kalam Sir always believed in the power of youth. Most of his writings focus on inspiring and igniting young minds. He believed that young minds are like soft clay. They can be easily molded and stay the same for the long term. So, it's essential to mold them in the right shapes.

"Turning Points" is mainly about the political journey of Dr. Kalam Sir. As a President, he made it his mission to connect the billion hearts and minds of people of India in our multicultural society through the ten pillars of development and to embed confidence and an attitude of 'we can do it'.

The narration of his challenging journey begins with a description of how he became the President. Unaware of what was planned for him ahead, and keeping his ambitions aside, Dr. Kalam Sir always did what was best for the country. It reflects in all his decisions that his top priorities were the welfare of India and the well being of its people.

On a personal level, being a scientist and an academic, he always aimed to see progress in these fields. Having worked at prestigious scientific institutions like DRDO, ADE, ISRO, science, and technology were at the core of his thoughts.

Dr. Kalam Sir says that "You become the captain of the problems, defeat the problem and succeed". He lived by this mantra and made selfless decisions at every point which then proved to be the "Seven Turning Points" of his life.

The most unforgettable part of this book was from the sixth chapter, "Learning from Others". It centered around the topic of gifts. Speaking about values, this chapter tells us about Sir's upbringing and what is the foundation upon which a great personality is built.

The book is full of Sir's profound experiences, challenging responsibilities, remarkable insights, and beautiful descriptions of the ambiances he's seen, throughout his presidency. One commendable thing to mention about the writing style will be that Sir never fails to mention the tiny details, which at times gives us the feeling of being present with him at those moments.

After this, I genuinely look forward to reading every book written by Dr. Kalam Sir, in the hope that I could contribute a small bit to his vision for our Nation.

Happy Reading.