Wings of Fire: An Autobiography

Wings of Fire traces the life and times of India’s former president APJ Abdul Kalam. It gives a glimpse of his childhood as well as his growth as India’s missile man.

Wings of Fire: An Autobiography is co-written by APJ Abdul Kalam and Arun Tiwari. The book traces his life from the obscure, poverty-stricken little village in Rameswaram to the imposing Rashtrapati Bhavan in the grand avenues of Lutyens Delhi.

In Wings of Fire: An Autobiography, ABJ Abdul Kalam’s life – both personal and professional – is unraveled through four sections titled Orientation, Creation, Propitiation and Contemplation. In Orientation, we get an understanding of his early life. From the sea shores of Rameswaram to a training program in NASA, the journey is a truly remarkable one and the book traces it in detail.

In `Creation,’ Abdul Kalam reminiscences on the beginning of his professional life. There are a lot of details about his work in NASA and other facilities in the US. The section focuses on the happenings in his life until 1980.

`Propitiation’ traces his evolution into the `Missile Man of India’ and focuses on the period between 1981 and 1991. `Contemplation’ gives us an insight into the thinking and philosophy of this legendary technocrat and an amazing human being.

General Reception and Other Adaptations

The book has been translated into 13 Indian languages. A Chinese and French version has been published.

About the Author
Abdul Kalam was born to Jainulabdeen Marakayar and Ashiamma on October 15, 1931. He got his degree in aeronautical engineering from IIT Madras and after a stint in NASA, he returned to India. His work on the Indian space program has inspired scientific thinking in the country.

Abdul Kalam became the 11th President of India and the other posts he has held include Principal Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister. He worked in the Indian Space Research Organization and Defense Research and Development Program. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1981 and the Bharat Ratna in 1997. He has an abiding interest in the welfare of children in the country.