Chapter 6 - My childhood

Character Sketch

Abdul Kalam

APJ Abdul Kalam described himself as a simple boy with basic looks. Born in a middle-class family, he was a hard-working person and had an ambitious personality. Kalam wanted to find out and explore things. Additionally, he was curious about studying and wanted to sit with the front category. He was delighted with his first earnings which tells that he wanted to be self-dependent. He did not believe in breaking society based on creed, caste or class. He says that he had obtained fairness and self-discipline from his father and profound kindness and goodness from his mother. He wanted to fly and explore a sort of bird.

APJ Abdul Kalam’s Father

Kalam’s father Jainulabdeen was a boat owner and imam of an area’s mosque. His mother Ashiamma was a housewife. His father had a boat that took Hindu pilgrims back and forth within Rameswaram and the now-abandoned Dhanushkodi. Dr Kalam’s father was an easy person with a humble and low background. He was respected by everyone and also had tons of self-respect. Jainulabdeen was a shipbuilder and owned boats that he rented fishers to earn his living. Although he was a faithful Muslim, Dr Kalam’s father was patient towards other faiths. He maintained cordial ties with Hindu school teachers and non-secular leaders in Rameswaram.