Ready to Fire - Book Experience

Ready to fire, the autobiography of an indian rocket scientist, Mr Nambi Narayanan, who is involved in the fabricated ISRO spy case. This book forms the base of a  recently released motion picture "Rocketry Nambi Narayanan Effect". This book is one of the best autobiographies I have  ever read and this is in par with the Gandhiji's autobiography "My Experiments with truth", "சத்திய சோதனை" in tamil, theses books doesn't portray the storyteller as a hero rather explains his journey through all his/her ups and downs.

The book uses parallel narration with two threads, one narrates his journey of a young aspiring engineering student who went on to lead liquid propulsion system in VSSC Vikram sarabhai space centre, and another thread narrating how he has been falsely accused in the fabricated case and he got rid of it. The first thread is interesting, exciting and inspirational indeed. The second story is full of the bureaucratic attrocities and how mundane the state media and several other low minded people, everyone doing their part for their personal gains, which inturn derailed the space mission atleast by 15 years (may be more) !.

The VSSC which is a successor of TERLS(Thumba Equitorial Rocket launching station) is the space technology division constituted by the great visionary Vikram Sarabhai and was reporting directly to the prime minister of india. His journey in rocket launching through liquid propulsion systems talks more about his mentor, guide, lead, boss, father figure and what not. Mr. Vikram Sarabhai held positions such as 

1. Chariman, Atomic commission of india
2. Founder chairman, Space application centre
3. Founder chairman, VSSC (TERLS then)

He was also instrumental in setting up the Indian Institute of Technologies around the country. In this book Mr. Nambi quotes  Mr. Vikram as

"He can call the Prime Minister anytime though phone and speak to them, such an influential person he is "

One of the episode in spotify podcast Mission ISRO by Harsha Bhogle, explains the journey of setting up Thumba space centre Finding Thumba.

One of the person this books talks a lot about other than Mr.Nambi and Mr. Vikram is Prof. Satish Dawan, another Visionary with whom Mr. Nambi shared a good rapport when Sarabhai has passed away in 1971. 

The book is as intersting as a thriller novel but narrates real story than a fictional one. The chapters where he explains about forming and leading a team of 75 scientists to Vernon, France to work closely with the french for 5 years to understand the know why about the liquid propulsion systems, how an exceptional welder let go of the job in French with a monthly salary which of 10 times that of an yearly salary he used to get in ISRO and died with mere savings and debts, the setting up of Mahendragiri propulsion complex, each one is as thrilling and inspiring and worth making a whole full length movie. Mr. Nambi has handed over his resignation letter twice to Prof. UR Rao but fotunately he has declined it in both the occasions. 

The experience of the other parallel story which depicts his sufferings once he is arrested can't be put into words and leaves a guilt and void me. One of the best parts in which the movie has succeeded in showing is the sufferings which Mr. Nambi and his family went through during the course of this case's hearings. 

The ISRO's journey from convincing the Bishop of Thumba's church for the land acquisition to set up office in the catholic church to putting a satellite in Mars's orbit is something that every indian can be proud of along with Neeraj chopra's gold and 2011 World cup victory. One could get an eagle eye view of this journey with stories narrated by the man in charge for one of the most succesfully engines the country has ever developed -  Vikas. This book is a wholesome experience.