My Life: An Illustrated Biography: An Illustrated Autobiography

by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

‘Let not thy winged days be spent in vain. When once gone, no gold can buy them back.’

I strongly believe that teachers need to tell students about great lives and make children understand their history and heritage. It is only through this that a love for the country is born that is based on knowledge and understanding. This is how children not only know what is good and what is evil but also learn to judge for themselves the distinction between the two. They then know the best way to behave in many situations. These lessons can form the moral core around which our personalities are formed—something that no one can take away from us however old we get.

I realized that if something is at stake, the human mind gets ignited and the working capacity gets enhanced manifold.

I learnt that dreams should be those that keep us awake, they are ideas that become actions that lead to change.

With each passing I remembered what they had taught me, what I had loved about each person and knew that no one really ever dies. If you have been good and loving, you live on in the hearts of those who held you dear.

A leader should give the credit of the success to the team members. But when failure comes, leaders should absorb the failures and protect the team members.

Weapons cannot buy peace, but they can help us to not repeat history.

Having an aim in life gives purpose to every action and orientation to every result.

Having an aim in life is incomplete until you are able to acquire the right knowledge needed to accomplish that aim.

Difficult missions will bring difficult challenges which may sometimes produce temporary setbacks. The test of a human being is in accepting the failure and going on trying until he or she succeeds. Managing failure is the essence of leadership.

Take up whatever challenge that comes your way but also find that one task that gives you bliss.

Books are our companions. Coming into contact with a good book and possessing it, is indeed an everlasting enrichment of life. Sometimes, they are born before us; they guide us during our life journey and continue to provide guidance for many generations. Ask yourself, what I will be remembered for?