Ignited Minds - Unleashing the power within India

Ignited Minds is a book written by scientist-patriot Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, formerly the President of India. The book was first published in 2002, and the full title of the book is Ignited Minds - Unleashing the Power within India. Ignited Minds is a logical step forward from Dr. Kalam's earlier book, India 2020 - A Vision for the New Millennium. The book is not only for self read but makes for a beautiful present also. 
In this book the president answers to the questions by student about life and dreams and the various questions by the young minds.   
Where there is so much of controversy in today’s world making the educational system more political than learning and educational, this book will entrust learning in today’s youth and children in the right direction, than creating a controversy between reading a particular political leader or historian.
A must read for all people with IGNITED MINDS and SPIRITs.

Dr. Kalam has dedicated Ignited Minds to a high school child, named Snehal Thakkar, whom he met at a school, and while talking to the students, a question had come up: "Who is our enemy?” Kalam recalled that many answers came up, but the answer on which all agreed came from her: "Our enemy is poverty".

It is a highly motivating book for young Indians, as also to anyone interested in understanding the reasons for remaining behind in the march of human civilization. The small book of 205 pages contains dynamic and original ideas, examines attitudes afflicting the Indians, and present prescriptions for rapid growth of India to enable the country to emerge as a developed country. The scientist and the seer inside Kalam has addressed the book to young citizens of India.

The book begins with a sad note and he recalls having seen a very vivid dream. He writes in the book that he saw himself in a desert “with miles of sand all around,’ and there stood five men, namely, Emperor Asoka, Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln and Caliph Omar. Kalam felt dwarfed by their presence, and recounts the words of these great personalities.

The next chapter emphasizes the importance of mother, father and elementary school teachers as role models.

The third chapter tells that "Vision ignites the minds", and talks about the modern Indian visionaries like J. R. D. Tata, Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan and Dr. Verghese Kurien.

The next section of the book deals with the spiritual heritage of the Indian nation and talks about developing a model of development based on India's inherent strengths.

The fifth chapter of the book exhorts the Indians, constituting a nation of one billion people "with multitude faiths and ideologies" to develop a "national vision" and amalgamate into one "national forum.

"The next chapter begins with: "Wisdom is a weapon to ward off destruction.
It is an inner fortress which enemies cannot destroy". This chapter reminds the readers that Ancient India was a "knowledge society that contributed a great deal to civilization."

The caption line of the seventh chapter is followed by the following inspiring words of Abraham Lincoln: "Determine that things can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way."

The eighth chapter exhorts for a change in the mindset and to take pragmatic risks, which shall result into success.

The ninth and the last chapter, with the caption line of "To My Countrymen" begins with few words of the Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore - "let my country awake."

The book ends with a "Song of Youth", with these opening words:
"As a young citizen of India,
Armed with technology and love for my nation,
I realize, a small aim is a crime."