The launch of IGMDP was like a bright flash on the Indian scientist firmament.Missile technology had been considered the monopoly of a few selected nations in the world.People were curious to see how India was going to achieve all that was promised.The magnitude of IGMDP,was really unprecedented in the country.Getting the go ahead and funds for the programme could at best be seen as only ten present of the work done.To get it going would be quite a different matter altogether.
During this period,the most important task before Kalam was the selection of the project directors to lead individual missile projects.DRDL had a large pool of highly talented people,many of whom were,unfortunately,egotistical.The question was whom to pick a go getter,a planner,a maverick,a dictator or a team man.He had to get the right type of leader who could clearly visualize the goal and channelise the energies of the team members working at different work centers.
It was difficult game,some rules of which he had learnt while working on ISRO's high priority projects for two decades.The wrong choice would jeopardize the entire future of the programme.
Many of his senior colleagues tried to be friend him during that period.He respected their concern for a lonely man,but avoided any close contacts.Through loyalty to a friend,one can be easily led into doing something that is not in the best interests of the organization.
His search for someone to lead the Prithvi project ended with Col.VJ Sundaram,who belonged to the EME corps of the Indian Army.He experimented with team work and had an extraordinary capability to evaluate alternative ways of operating.He would suggest moving forward into new terrains.Kalam knew the project director of Prithvi would be the first to make decisions with production agencies and the armed forces and Col.Sundaram would be the ideal choice to see that sound secisons were taken.
For Trishul,Kalam was looking for someone who not only had a sound knowledge of electronics and missile warfare,but who could also communicate these complexities to the team in order to promote understanding and support.He found in Commodore SR Mohan,from the Indian Navy,a talent for detail and an almost magical power of persuasion.
For Agni,his dream project,he needed somebody who would tolerate his occasional meddling in the running of this project.In RN Agarwal he found the right person.He was an alumnus of MIT with a brilliant academic record.He had been managing the aeronautical test facilities at DRDL .
Due to technological complexities,Akash and Nag were then considered missiles of the future,their activities were expected to peak about half a decade later.Therefore,he selected the relatively young Prahlada and NR Iyer.
In those days,issues of general importance could not be openly discussed or decisions debated.Therefore,he formulated the Science Council,a sort of panchayat,where the community would sit together and take common decisions.Every three months,all the scientists,veterans and freshers would sit together and let off steam.
The very fist meeting of the Council was eventful.After a spell of half-hearted enquiries and expressions of doubt,one senior scientist shot a straight shot a straight question at Kalam."On what basis did you select these five Pandavas he meant the project directors"?
Kalam told him to wait and see.He had chosen them to take charge of long term programms where new storms would arise everyday.
During this period,the most important task before Kalam was the selection of the project directors to lead individual missile projects.DRDL had a large pool of highly talented people,many of whom were,unfortunately,egotistical.The question was whom to pick a go getter,a planner,a maverick,a dictator or a team man.He had to get the right type of leader who could clearly visualize the goal and channelise the energies of the team members working at different work centers.
It was difficult game,some rules of which he had learnt while working on ISRO's high priority projects for two decades.The wrong choice would jeopardize the entire future of the programme.
Many of his senior colleagues tried to be friend him during that period.He respected their concern for a lonely man,but avoided any close contacts.Through loyalty to a friend,one can be easily led into doing something that is not in the best interests of the organization.
His search for someone to lead the Prithvi project ended with Col.VJ Sundaram,who belonged to the EME corps of the Indian Army.He experimented with team work and had an extraordinary capability to evaluate alternative ways of operating.He would suggest moving forward into new terrains.Kalam knew the project director of Prithvi would be the first to make decisions with production agencies and the armed forces and Col.Sundaram would be the ideal choice to see that sound secisons were taken.
For Trishul,Kalam was looking for someone who not only had a sound knowledge of electronics and missile warfare,but who could also communicate these complexities to the team in order to promote understanding and support.He found in Commodore SR Mohan,from the Indian Navy,a talent for detail and an almost magical power of persuasion.
For Agni,his dream project,he needed somebody who would tolerate his occasional meddling in the running of this project.In RN Agarwal he found the right person.He was an alumnus of MIT with a brilliant academic record.He had been managing the aeronautical test facilities at DRDL .
Due to technological complexities,Akash and Nag were then considered missiles of the future,their activities were expected to peak about half a decade later.Therefore,he selected the relatively young Prahlada and NR Iyer.
In those days,issues of general importance could not be openly discussed or decisions debated.Therefore,he formulated the Science Council,a sort of panchayat,where the community would sit together and take common decisions.Every three months,all the scientists,veterans and freshers would sit together and let off steam.
The very fist meeting of the Council was eventful.After a spell of half-hearted enquiries and expressions of doubt,one senior scientist shot a straight shot a straight question at Kalam."On what basis did you select these five Pandavas he meant the project directors"?
Kalam told him to wait and see.He had chosen them to take charge of long term programms where new storms would arise everyday.
