I vividly recall my first encounter with Dr Kalam, my Guru, in 1967 in Thiruvananthapuram for my assignment in Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS).
I met this short young man with curly hair at the Bishop’s House, where the Rocket Engineering Division (RED) functioned, surrounded by young engineers.  I introduced myself and his reaction was “Shri H G S Murthy (Director of TERLS) told me all about you” and turned to his PA, Thankappan Nair, to give me a notebook.
It was for the first time after my school days, six years back, that I had to take a notebook in hand. This was Kalam, giving clear instructions on topics, which I should read, people whom I should meet and a couple of files relating to experiments on which I was to work with him, etc., all business like.
That instant has launched me into my career in space and steered my dream as a rocket engineer for the next 18 years.
The maiden flight of SLV-3, of which he was the Project Director, began as a perfect flight on August 10, 1979, but after the first stage propulsion, there followed the tumbling of the vehicle.
Later, it was understood that the mission failed due to leakage of propellant in the control system of the second stage. Dr Kalam blamed none and took the whole responsibility for failure on himself. The event brought out the finest practice one can expect in managing complex technology development. Dr Kalam provided the vision and left the details to be worked out by the concerned, but kept everything under sight, applied corrections at the right time and allowing each individual to perform beyond their capabilities.

Pioneer
A pioneer in Indian rocket systems and, later, in missile and nuclear missions, Dr Kalam impressed every one who worked with him with clear vision, precision in mission planning, networking of technologies and human beings, foreseeing the potential of advanced technologies, taking calculated risks, endurance for hard work, optimistic attitude, confidence in youngsters and a humane approach to achieve success. He led the successful flight of SLV-3 on July 18, 1980, that laid the foundation for launch vehicle technology in the country and enabled India to subsequently develop world class vehicles like PSLV and GSLV that are serving the nation today to place Indian satellites into the specified orbits.
Dr Kalam’s leadership qualities and style of functioning, especially, the openness and accessibility, has brought to bear in his tackling complicated issues at the national level today.
The extremely humane nature of his approach and sensitivity to the feelings and aspirations of the youth, poor and needy will go a long way in taking this nation to developed status within a decade.