I was in Standard 5th, standing in front of 100s of students and teachers to deliver my first ever speech. I was totally nervous and was shivering like a leaf.
My Aai had prepared me well for the topic, the topic was Dr.A.P.J #Abdulkalam I kept on pausing......
(1/n)

And somehow managed to complete the speech. The speech was utter failure.I got of the stage,and cried like a baby. My principal mam saw this entire scene and she rushed towards me and asked me why was i crying.
I answered,"Mam,i was not able to give the speech properly"
(2/n)

She purposely asked me about the topic of the speech and I answered it was Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam. She kept her hand on head and told me one of his famous quote "Don't fear facing failure in first attempt, because even the succesful maths starts with zero"
(3/n)

I didn't get the gist of what she was saying at that time. As the program was proceeding,she went inside and announced that "Malhar Pandey will deliver his speech about Dr.A.P.J Kalam
Once again". It came as a shocker to me, because i was thinking about my failure....
(4/n)

She came backstage and said "Malhar, this is the time where you will prove yourself,don't think of audience seating in front of you just go and deliver what you have prepared"
(5/n)

I climbed up the stage, wiping my tears, and started with "Namaste Everyone" and then gave my first ever public speech on Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam, the first speech for which I received a standing ovation.
I was stunned, my tears were long gone.
(6/n)

I was smiling and I kept on smiling, and then principal mam came on stage and appreciated me in front of everyone.
Few days later, she called me to her office and gifted me "Wings of Fire by Dr.A.P.J Kalam" and told me to read it whenever I am in a problem
(7/n)

I was too young then to understand the meaning of this book, but as I grew up,I started reading this book and I became a Shishya of a Guru named Dr.A.P.J Kalam.
From the first speech about him in my school to a speech that helped me win a sstate-level elocution competition
(8/n)

It was all Dr.Kalam. I pay my tributes to a Guru #apjabdulkalam on his birth anniversary
Learned a lot of things from you ! And wish to learn a lot of things till i breathe my last
(9/n)