Discover the Writer in You

Curtain-raiser Dr Abdul Kalam was born in 1931 in the island town of Rameshwaram. He distributed newspapers as a young boy and his sister mortgaged her gold bangles to support his education in aeronautical engineering. Later, he rose to become the Missile Man of India and the 11th President of the country. His whole life is so inspiring but I have selected 3 stories that leave a deep imprint on our minds and serve to energize us till this day. 1st Story - Mastering the Failures In 1958, Dr Kalam traveled to Dehradun to appear in an interview at the Air Force Selection Board. He loved flying machines from an early age and wanted to be a pilot. However, as luck would have it, he failed in the interview. Armed forces are a personality based organization and he had been brought up in a very humble environment by his parents. So, in his early years, his level of confidence and communication skills were low. This incident so intensely affected the young Kalam that he concluded his life had n...

I am Right! FADE IN:  INT.COFFEE SHOP - DAY  Subdued sunlight enters through large window panes. SOFT PIANO MUSIC plays in the background. It's not crowded but a few tables are occupied. SHIKHA,20, a fair, smart lassie, sporting a white top, occupies a window seat. A waiter attends to her.  WAITER  Madam, would you like to place your order ?  SHIKHA  Actually, I am waiting for someone. Thank you.  EXT.COFFEE SHOP - DAY  Quite and Sunny. Scarce traffic. A disheveled beggar sits outside the coffee shop on the concrete footpath. Occasionally, he shakes his aluminum bowl which causes the  the coins inside to  RATTLE clamorously, drawing the attention of the passers by.  RISHI, a dark, handsome young man, 22, attired casually, rushes towards the coffee shop, checking with concern, the time on his wrist watch. The beggar notices him and starts shaking his bowl vigorously. The fellow quickly pulls out his purse and tosses a coin into the ...

Y ug was standing right at the forward tip of Lovers Point. It was dangerous. But not for someone who had decided to end his life. It was a table top feature perched precariously on a high peak, surrounded on all sides by an iron fence.  The inbound area was tiled. It was a picnic spot. But mostly, it was frequented by fellows, wounded by the cupid’s arrow. Lush green surroundings, vision extending up to infinity, a vibrant valley of flowers spread out in front and the fresh, fragrant breeze. All this effortlessly placed you in a relaxed frame of mind, inspired you to become more of yourself, acknowledge the other and maybe, fall in love! On other occasions, this extraordinary ambience just did the opposite which earned this place another tag, Suicide Point . Every year, many people jumped down to sure death from this height and said goodbye to a world which had become too much for them. The administration had put some strict rules in place, increased the number of guards,...

FADE IN:  EXT.VILLAGE - DAY Tall palm trees with barren hills in the backdrop. Clusters of wooden huts with thatched roofs.  A group of elders play cards and smoke alternatively from a  hookah. Some children chase a fallen kite. A few cows and  chickens loiter around casually.  DAMAN,32,a dark, frail man, wearing an old, sleeveless grey  jacket and an off white lower, negotiates a muddy, narrow  village lane.  He treads hesitantly as if afraid of something. Despite his  poor appearance, there is a kind of grace about him.  A wealthy landlord emerges from the opposite direction,  sporting a shiny white attire and a yellow turban. The  moment he notices Daman, his recoils with disgust.                                  WEALTHY LANDLORD                       ...