Fighting Fear The Kalam Way!

New Delhi, Jan 25 (UNI) If given a chance to fly in a supersonic fighter aircraft SU-30-MKI, how will you banish your fear? If you are President APJ Abdul Kalam, you will do so by ignoring the speed of the aircraft and concentrating on its controls and instruments instead.

Dr Kalam, who became the first Indian President to get on board a SU-30-MKI at the age of 74, revealed this during his customary Address to the Nation on the eve of this year's Republic Day.

After his 40-minute flight in the fighter aircraft on June 8 last year, Dr Kalam was quizzed by a young man on his experience.

''Mr President, please tell me, since you have flown in the supersonic fighter aircraft at the age of 74, were you afraid anytime during the flight?" Recounting the experience, Dr Kalam told that man: ''All the 40 minutes of the flight, I was busy on the controls and instruments and experiencing the ''g'' (gravitational) build up.

I was advised by the captain (Wing Commander Ajay Rathore) to track targets and also look at the ground using the synthetic aperture radar.'' In addition, the scientist-President said he was observing the performance of the instruments developed indigenously.

''I was continuously busy in flight operations and I didn't have any time to allow fear to enter me,'' said Dr Kalam, who also became the first Indian President to get on board a submarine.

The President recounted this experience to emphasise that when a nation marched towards its missions, many challenges would come on the way.

''Courage is a very important trait for all sections of society in overcoming these challenges.'' He also asked the youth to ''work and work with courage'' to achieve success in all their missions.

''...Courage to reach the unreached, courage to combat problems and succeed are the unique qualities of youth,'' he said.

UNI