I'm proud that I recommended him for ISRO: EV Chitnis

While there are a few individuals who knew Dr Kalam right from his early days, EV Chitnis, who recommended a young Kalam for the job with the Space Program as an engineer, recalls that he was a man who used to lead by example.

Chitnis, former head of space application centre of ISRO (Indian Space Research organisation), was working at Thumba where Kalam had given an interview for a job. Chitnis recalled that it was his colleague HGS Murthy, who had interviewed Kalam, told him that there was one engineer selected for the job. Chitnis informed that Murthy was the test director at Thumba and he told Vikram Sarabhai that they should also induct this engineer for the job.

It was legendary Sarabhai who told Chitnis, "You just see this bio-data and tell me." Chitnis recalled that he studied Kalam's resume and suggested to Sarabhai that they should take him on board. "That's how Kalam joined the Indian Space development program. I had in Murthy that he would recommend the right person for the job."

Chitnis recalled that once Kalam started working, he never repented his decision of inducting Kalam after seeing the way Kalam progressed and inspired his juniors. Chitnis said that Kalam used to lead in such a way that his juniors could easily learn a lot by emulating him. "Youngsters follow their superiors especially in such fields but Kalam was such a professional that he was an example setter and he used to guide juniors through his conduct. That made him a true leader."