Inspiration is such a powerful and influential tool that it can excavate the inner diamonds of one’s personality, more so it can make happen the impossible. Abdul Kalam was and continues to be one such inspiration for millions.

On the 15th of May 2021 we young Aryaanites got the privilege to meet yet another brilliant personality- his excellency Dr. Prahlada Ramarao mentored by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam himself-in a live interactive session at the initiative of our dynamic Director Vyankatesh Prabhudesai Sir.

Dr. Prahlada Ramarao was the project director of the mobile surface to air missile AKASH. He was decorated with the Padma Shri in 2015 for his important and noteworthy contribution in the field of missile development.

After a brief introduction of Dr. Prahlada by VPD Sir what ensued was a n extremely inspiring and enlightening session with Dr.Prahlada. And the session was also blessed by the presence of VPD Sir’s mentor at IIT Bombay,Prof. Pant.

Dr.Prahlada started off by making us young Aryaanites aware of the responsibility that our generation bears. He availed the opportunity of the interactive session to give our dreams a direction. He, throughout the session focussed upon the fact that service to nation comes before service to self. He rightly said that our generation bears the responsibility to transform a presently respected INDIA into a powerful INDIA that is, prosperous, emotionally stable,intellectually and culturally rich. Further he visualised the scope of progress we could bring about. He, then compared the domain of opportunities in his youth with that of ours, which showed how privileged we are as compared to our fathers and grandfathers  thus he motivated us to change INDIA as beautifully as possible, as, we, the youth of INDIA assume and attain our responsibility and stature.

Before he could plunge into his realm of guided missiles, he gave us a glimpse of the infinite spectrum of opportunities, facilities, and exposure to knowledge that we can access at our fingertips. He encouraged us to exploit this for the better cause and best results. It was because of such connectivity, he added, that we were able to behold the various wonders of aerospace engineering all around us.

Subsequently he briefly sketched his tenure as the project director of various missile programmes, and his association with Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. He impressed heavily upon the humility, talent and other exceptional qualities of Dr. Kalam.

ME IISc Dr.Prahlada was one of the 2 aeronautical engineering aspirants chosen for availing the scholarship for specialisation in missiles and rockets. He was interviewed and selected by Dr. Satish Dhavan himself. At such a tender age of a youth, he got the exposure to such complex missile systems. He then joined the DRDL (Defence Research and Development Laboratory)and worked on anti-tank missiles of very-short ranges.

As per Dr Prahlada, after the success of SLV-3, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s responsibility was coming to an end. But the Government of INDIA had better plans for him. The Government of INDIA wanted to build its self-reliance in missile development and production,asINDIA was highly dependent on other powers of the world even for repair and upgradation. With a view of developing its own guided missiles the GOI wanted Dr. Kalam to head the missile development programme at DRDL.

Dr Pralhada stated that the arrival of Dr. Kalam at DRDO was a breakthrough for INDIAN missile development and research. He had big dreams for INDIA and wanted to design,manufacture and mass produce indigenous missile systems. So, he discontinued all the projects that included reverse engineering of foreign technologies at DRDL.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam thus embarked upon the long journey of developing indigenous missiles. He deliberated with the Army, Navy, and the Airforce, understood their requirements, and worked out 5 designs of missiles:

TRISHUL the surface to air short range missile,

AKASH the surface to air medium range missile,

PRITHVI the surface-to-surface medium range missile,

THE NAAG and

THE AGNI missile the long-range ballistic missile.

Dr.Prahlada continued that, for the GOI, sanctioning such a huge project meant pledging Rs.500crores to it and albeit such an amount the GOI sanctioned it and thus the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme commenced. But the sanctioning of the project did not mean the task was a cake walk, but it rather came with the responsibility to successfully develop the missiles. Every missile posed its own technological challenges to the team and the project director. More so, the team had to build a testing range in different regions of the country to test the missiles and at the same time also set up a manufacturing unit. All this could only be achieved by perseverance, hard work and the ideal leadership of Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam.

When VPD Sir asked him, if there were times when the ever-soft-spoken Dr. Kalam lost his temper as his position and duty often required some amount of aggression to get certain jobs done? To this Dr.Prahlada replied that although Dr. Kalam was soft-spoken he got all the necessary jobs done with the way he spoke. Dr.Prahlada narrated an incident to testify the above claim. During the IGMDP the wives of the 3 male project heads including the wife of Dr.Prahlada attributed their husbands’ constant unavailability on holidays to Dr. Kalam. On one occasion the 3 project directors were invited with their wives to a dinner, where the wives decided to ask the ‘Missile Man’ of INDIA about the absence of their husbands. But before they could do the same, Dr. Kalam offered to have a word with them in person. He told them that their husbands should stay home more often,and he always insisted them to do so, but they never conceded to his requests, he also added that INDIA was proud of their contribution and service. Thus the 3 wives were happy and satisfied and never resented again. Such was the power of Dr. Kalam’s calm and soft-spoken behaviour.

According to Dr.Prahlad,Dr. Kalam’s conviction as a leader only did more wonders. Once, his co-worker, Dr.Prahlada narrated, was suffering from a liver failure and needed a transplant that could be done only from a Hospital in London within 24 hours, so, Dr. Kalam requested the Defence Minister of INDIA to arrange for his travel and stay, but the defence minister was hesitant to finance the trip, as, the GOI was not liable to do the same. But Dr. Kalam politely refused to leave the office until the trip was financed; and so, it was.

Dr Pralada stressed that,Dr. Kalam’s humility was also unparallel and narrated a small incident when the internationally respected and famous Bharat Ratna, Dr Abdul Kalam spoke to simple the cook at Dr.Prahalad’s Daughter’s wedding in Tamil with respect and enthusiasm.

Dr. Prahlada attributed the development of the passion and affection, in him and his colleagues, towards their respective missile programmes,to Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam,who, taught them to nurture it as though it were their own baby. This is evident in the way a pregnant director refused to return home to take rest, as her delivery date was due, because she wanted to see her missile tested.

From Dr. Prahlada’s speech, we absorbed that all the attributes of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s personality are truly inspiring and essential to make one’s life happy and worthy of living.

However, a notable fact about Dr. Prahlada is that, not even for a single instance did he speak about himself unless he was asked. He attributed all his achievements to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam which shows his humility, modesty and simplicity. He also offered to give us his email id so that our queries were not left unanswered. We,Aryaanites, are also very lucky to have a guru like VPD Sir who brings out the best in us and always keeps us motivated. Thanks, Sir, for all of your efforts to propel us into places like IITs and AIIMS.

Towards the end of the session Dr. Prahlada motivated us to give up our selfish dreams and instead dream big for the country. He also told us that progress for the country was not possible until we embrace a T-shaped knowledge where we have the knowledge of all fields but highly specialise in one. This T-shaped knowledge he says, was inherent in Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and was reason for his, and our country’s success in missile development.

Dr. Prahlada has ignited a flame for national service in us that shall not extinguish until we achieve something great for the nation. Thanks, Sir, for such an enlightening session with us.

The vote of thanks was delivered Soumya Hede of Class 12th and the programme was finally concluded with the stunning presentation of vocal skills in INDIAN classical music by our very own and talented Nidhi Thakur of Class 11th.

Nandini Siddhesh Rangnekar

Class 11th