On an elevated plane now

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, NOV. 24. Did you know that Bharat Ratna Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Azad wanted to become an Indian Air Force pilot before he went on to become a rocket scientist of repute?

The former scientific advisor to the Prime Minister gave an interesting anecdote of his younger days when he dreamt of flying. "I was an island guy who always loved to watch seagulls fly. I wanted to fly and after I got into the Madras Institute of Technology for my engineering I applied for the IAF pilot post," he recalled during an interaction with high school students of the International School here on Saturday.

"There were only nine posts and 10 were shortlisted but I lost out in the medical tests," he laughed. "So, instead of flying I got into developing aircraft, satellite and missile launching. Everytime it has been a challenge though I cannot say I had fulfilled all my dreams," he said.

Underlining his "second vision" for the country to make it a developed nation, Dr. Kalam said "we should have a vision for the next 20 years. I will be 90 by that time and I expect to see young people like you to lead the country as a great economic power."

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