In memory of Abdul Kalam sir...my dad was talking about it over the last 3-4 days and I wished to share it with people without revealing anyone's identity. It involves some diplomatic relations between countries...no offence meant to anyone. 😛
This was when my dad was working for a dept of atomic energy company and Kalam sir was overseeing Prithvi missile in the 1990s. There were a series of nuclear tests at Pokhran and the US had imposed sanctions on India. That was the time when the Prithvi missile research was at its peak. As mentioned in the above post my dad's company used to supply thermal batteries for the missile. These are batteries which can function at very high temperatures unlike normal ones which will melt beyond a certain temperature.
These thermal batteries required some components which were usually imported from the US. After the sanctions were imposed, the company in the US stopped supplying these components without a proper statement declaring where these components were going to be used. There was a delay in supplying the batteries to DRDO because my dad's company weren't sure what to tell the US supplier company. They could lie saying it was going to be used for some 'blah blah' purpose or they could tell them the truth. There was a big meeting headed by Kalam sir and my dad was also present ( I wish they had camera phones back then and my dad had taken a selfie) Kalam sir clearly told them to tell the truth. Many objected saying this could mean that they would stop supplying the component. He just said...'why do you want to import...can't you guys make it here?'
They did as told...declared the truth. As expected, the US company refused to supply the component..and my dad's company had to break their heads and create it here. They took an extra 6-8 months but finally they did it and started supplying the batteries to DRDO. 👏
Just a small story of how he inspired people. 😃
Edited by visrom - 10 years ago
Anupamaa
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