My NAME is KALAM.

My NAME Is KALAM.

            Born on 15th October 1931

From an Indian aerospace scientist to the President of India, the 'Missile Man of India' has inspired millions of people with ambitions of science and propelled our nation towards technological advancements, here's a story of one such yearning and aspiration.

As I entered the gates of Riverside Public School, my eyes caught sight of the banner, “Science Fair, 2021”. I fancy those schools, encouraging the innovative side of their pupils, and not just compelling them to bury their dainty heads deep into the theoretical monotony. I believe the more these children create and experiment, the more this world will progress, holding the hands of some brilliant brainiacs in the field of Science.

Hello, Mr. Shrivastav! Welcome to our institution”, the Principal warmly greeted me as he handed me a beautiful bouquet of fresh roses, decorated with ribbons. It was quite exquisite. The validation seemed chummy, and I would be lying if I didn’t say I was flattered. “Thank you for this warm gesture. Really, you didn’t need to make such grand arrangements. The students and their unique ideas is the sport alluring me to this turf.

Then, let’s not delay any more. The children are already bursting in exuberance” he chaperoned me to the auditorium, where the event was organized. The hallway was filled with charts and pictures of eminent personalities of our country, to inspire these little heads within the confinement, and what they perceive as under the horrors of a teacher's duress.

My appearance in the auditorium was the same as that of a commoner present there, not a chief guest. The children were so busy perfecting their inventions that they couldn’t care any less about who has stepped in. We climbed the stairs of the stage. The Principle held the microphone and announced, “Good morning, dear students. Now, when our chief guest, Mr. Ajay Shrivastav has arrived, we will be starting our Science Fair and the selection of the no.1 novelty. Before that, I invite Mr. Shrivastav and speak a few words about himsesphere.

The hushed auditorium reverberated with claps. I began my unrehearsed introduction, “Hello, little geniuses! I am Ajay Shrivastav, an ISRO aerospace engineer. I am not here to gauge your universality, but to get inspired and absorb the special, unthought-of visions in the dimension of science and technology floating in this sphedrone..

There were impressive rows of erupting volcanoes, electric power from the battery of starch, pictures being clicked without a boxed camera, and many more. I was left in awe witnessing each of them. A faint ‘zzz…’ seized my curiosity towards it. I looked up and discovered it was a drone. A DRONE! A student built a damn drone!

I followed the drone’s orbit to find out who was that miraculous prodigy. Back in my mind, I was set to prove that this drone was a purchase, not invented. Finally, I saw him, the dronesmith. It was a boy of class 11; controlling it with a remote. I approached him, “Hey! Does that drone belong to you?”Y

"Yes, Sir. It’s mine”, the student answered. “What’s your name? And, how did you build it?”, I couldn’t suppress my curiosity any longer. “My name is Kalam, Kalam Mirza. I built the drone trailing my father’s instructions”.