Bangalore's famed plane-maker finally clears engineering in 10 years

Muzakkir along with his wife Salma pose for a photograph in front of the dilapidated plane which he built in 2003. Below, the microlight that was built in 2013 as part of his engineering project. Photo: Vinod Kumar T

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: Ten years after he enrolled for his dream engineering course, Mohd Muzakkir Sharief, the wiz kid who hit international headlines for his plane-making skills, has finally cleared all his papers. A student of Bangalore's H K B K College of Engineering, Muzakkir, now 33-years-old, married, and on his family way, cleared two of his backlog sixth semester subjects -- Heat and Mass Transfer and Mechanical Vibration -- during the exams conducted by Visvesvaraya Technological University recently. After 10 years of marathon struggle, Muzakkir has an aggregate of 57 per cent in Mechanical Engineering.

Speaking to Express on Thursday, an elated Muzakkir said that his entire teaching staff and friends were finally relieved to hear the good news. "I took sweets to college and everyone kept telling me that I would become someone in life. I always wanted to be a winner, but couldn't crack the engineering code in four years. I had to fight serious health issues, including TB," he said. He made close to 15 attempts to clear his mathematics papers.

His immediate plan is to hunt for a job to support his family with most of the finances already being spent on his plane passion. "I will carry on with my research and development in aviation. I am going to be blessed with a child soon. There are many people who have promised me help. I will start knocking at their doors," says Muzakkir.

Terming him as a 'born inventor', V Ponraj, advisor to former President A P J Abdul Kalam said that Muzakkir is sure to go places in future. "There is a delay and it is understandable. I am happy that with all his problems over the years, he finally managed to clear his exams. Great brains world over have never excelled well in their exams and Muzakkir is yet another case," he said. As the President, Dr Kalam had deputed Ponraj to undertake a recee mission in 2003 to his house in J C Nagar for a first-hand report on the 100-kg plane he built using junk material.

T C Manjunath, HKBK College of Engineering principal said that Muzakkir's was a very rare case. "We kept telling him not to give up. The boy really struggled hard and he used to fail in many subjects. His aviation skills have already inspired his junior batches who have already working on a new project. They are seeking an interaction with the Yelahnaka air base officials, subject to Indian Air Force approval," says Manjuth. 

Muzakkir's wife Salma Ahmed Haigi, a B Com graduate, recalled that her husband always feared exams. "He used to get really tense ahead of exams. He even took additional oxygen supplies once after struggling for breath," says Salma. His mother Sayeeda Banu, 69 years, a retired Urdu teacher, now wants her son to find a job soon and also join an M Tech course.
Copyright@The New Indian Express

At 80, Kalam says he's in love

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Bangalore: APJ is in love! Deep love! This could be one piece of news that might hit you on a Sunday morning in surprise. It's confirmed. There's proof. And, he has admitted it. He even posted a video with his 'love' on his FB page. He penned a poem dipped in passion. The Missile Man is bit by the love bug at 80.
It was on Valentine's Day – a committed Kalam made up his mind and leaked the news to the world. He first posted a photo on FB, standing next to his apple of eye. He was calm. Cool and had some looks of a man in 'love.' Those following him world-over were thrilled, even prompting this Correspondent to quiz him: “Dr Kalam, what's going on through your mind.” No reply came. Nor any 'Like This' message.
But he sprang a surprise by penning a poem two weeks later. This time he chose to go the digital way. When Express sought the lyrics of the poem, Kalam responded at lightning speed. And, some of the lines randomly read: “With a music of honey bee intoxicated; A surprise and a miracle; At no time experienced disappointed; Your soul wants us to blossom; Oh Kalam!”
Sources close to him say that his love really blossomed while he was the First Citizen of India. Wanting anonymity, they said that the former President was seen 'dating' at Mughal Garden, not once, many times. “What mattered to the missile man was the fragrance and charm that reflected the inner beauty and definitely not the external looks. He was very thrilled every time he was at the Mughal Garden,” a close aide of his said.
So what's making him open his heart now? To let the world know what is in his mind. To pen a poem that goes on to read: Smile and always spontaneously smile; Touched my face and body, fully rejuvenated; Make the world smile.
On his FB page (www.facebook.com/OfficialKalam), the 'Like This' fan numbers have crossed the 2-lakh mark on Saturday, probably due to his revelations about his latest 'love' and the life, thereafter. 

There's nothing wrong to fall in love at 80. After all, roses are harmless. Only, keep away from the thorns!

Copyright@The New Sunday Express

INSPIRING INDIA: Kalam the Master, ignites Srijan the Pupil | Their joint-book 'Target 3 Billion' now rated among Top 5 bestsellers

Former President A P J Abdul Kalam and his team man Srijan Pal Singh. Photo: Zoom Delhi

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore:  Cometh the moment, cometh the man. Probably young Srijan Pal Singh knew it better than anyone else. A chance dinner-meeting with 'Prof A P J Abdul Kalam' in 2008 at IIM Ahmedabad was his moment, which literally turned him into the Missile Man's man, months later. And in 2011 December, their first 'joint venture' in the form of a book – Target 3 Billion – hit the stands. Today, T3B  is featured amongst the top five bestsellers in the non-fiction category, with translations underway virtually in every Indian languages, leave alone requests from abroad.

Sow how did the Pupil get inspired by the Master? Srijan says it was always his dream to meet Kalam once, but never thought he will be part of his missions for ever. “I belong to a generation which has grown up being inspired by a scientist-cum-administrator-cum-leader-cum-President. We are all proud of his achievements. So being a student of his, then working under him and then co-authoring with him and now managing some of his missions is indeed a wonderful experience,” Srijan told Express.

And, how did the Master ignite the Pupil? By taking Srijan as part of his inner circle, Kalam  gave him the mission to promote and execute innovative and scalable ideas. “He wanted me to focus on sustainable development especially for the rural areas through the model of Providing Urban Amenities to Rural Areas (PURA). I also work for activating the spirit of giving among the youth with the 'What Can I Give Mission,' which has about 4,00,000 members now,” says Srijan.

Srijan's father is a retired as government official, who works a social worker, while his mother still works in the education sector. “My brother is an innovator and also a farmer and my sister is a primary school teacher. We have all grown up in an environment of liberty of thought and freedom of belief,” says the IIM-A grad, who is now propelling Kalam's key missions.

On the idea of putting together T3B, he says that while working on different PURA projects along with Kalam, they both realized that one of the much-needed aspects is to create a knowledge resource where different success stories and ideas from across the globe can be disseminated for replication. “This led to the idea to create a book for PURA aspirants and all those interested to know how we can empower the 750 million rural population of India and the 3 billion people who live in villages across the world. This would be the basis for the challenges of poverty, inequity and conflicts which the world witnesses today. We started working on the book at the start of 2010 and got it published an year later,” he said.

Hailing from the remotest Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh, this 28-year-old soft-spoken brain has set his eyes on the next mission to create a sustainable development platform, where entrepreneurs, especially the rural youth, can find investment, knowledge and marketing support for their social ventures. “This would bridge the divides of the rich and the poor, the rural and the urban. The challenge is to bring the energies of the India for such a mission – which is the task I am working towards,” says Srijan, with commitment writ all over his face and a tone, matching his Master's voice.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

Karnataka CM DVS Gowda seeks Kalam's intervention to end IS-ROW

D V S Gowda

A P J Abdul Kalam

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service 

Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda is seeking the intervention of former President A P J Abdul Kalam to douse the fire engulfing out of the Space war. Speaking to Express,  the CM said that he has asked a senior official in the government to draft a letter to be sent to Kalam. “It is very unfortunate to see what is happening in the Space sector. To me, it is a very sacrosanct filed which is making India thrive in the fields of communication, IT, agriculture and weather forecast. For a long time, I have been very keenly following all the developments in Space. But I am disappointed now,”  the CM said.

Hoping that his letter to Kalam will put and end to the current mess, Gowda said: “I don't want Bangalore's and Karnataka's name being drawn into any controversies. I hope Kalam Sir will bring both (Madhavan Nair & Radhakrishnan) to a discussion table and settle the row. As a politician I want to stay away from the current problem." 

The CM's decision to rope in Kalam comes after his attempt to get the attention of former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K Kasturirangan. “I had contacted him too, but he being a former chairman, had his own reservations. I respect his decision as he is now engrossed in other activities in Delhi. I have always been touched by Kalam Sir's power to inspire people and hope he will take a stand and solve the matter,” the CM said.  

Kasturirangan, currently a member of Planning Commission looking after matters related to Science, Technology, Environment, Forest Wildlife and Agriculture, told Express from Delhi over phone that he will play a silent role at this juncture. “I have given my sweat and blood to ISRO for over 35 years and the last 10 years as its head. It is a very resilient organisation and must stay focused on its future missions. ISRO is very dear to my heart and as a human being, I will naturally have my emotions,” Kasturirangan said, not wanting to take any sides.

Kalam upset: The ongoing ISRO controversy seems to have upset Kalam. Sources say that the Missile Man, currently in Hyderabad, was completely disturbed to see the beating ISRO is getting from all quarters. “Space is  his pet subject and he shares very fond memories of ISRO. He is shocked by all the current developments,” sources said.

Kalam on the other hand is said to have made an attempt to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss the raging space row. “Prior appointments of the PM, Republic Day engagements clashed with Kalam's travel plans. Hence the meeting could not take place at short notice,” government sources  said.

Copyright@The New Indian Express