Roald Dahl’s story
I have read Roald Dahl’s autobiographical work “Boy: Tales of Childhood”. Reading his incredible collection of books in the past, I’m pleased that I got a chance to read this book in which narrates his life events. His wonderfully woven childhood memories motivated me to record the events my life in my journal too, so that I can recollect the memories when I grow up. The funniest incident I can recall from his autobiography is one where his friends challenge him to put a dead rat in the chocolate jar of a sweetshop. The aftermath of this incident is relatable to all. Taking inspiration from this, recently, I wrote a short story in my secret journal based on the funniest incident I experienced during my school days. Reading this book inspires me to dream big-and aspire to become an author.
“Why I Am An Atheist”
Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s autobiography, “Why I Am an Atheist’ inspired me. Singh’s extensive justifications about being an atheist and the questions he asked to the theists made me contemplate a lot on this topic.. The books also improved my vocabulary. What I liked the most about the book is that he doesn’t insult God, rather he candidly answers why he doesn’t below in God’s existence.
He also writes that people often find courage to face trying circumstances because of their belief in God. On the other hand, atheists have to be self-motivated. This was the point which made me think a lot. It’s true that when we are in any difficult situation, we feel assured that an omniscient, omnipresent God is there who will give us strength, but how it would be for an atheist and especially for a revolutionary like Bhagat Singh, who would have faced hurdles at every step?
Anand’s biography
Reading “Mind Master – Winning Lessons from a Champion’s Life” by Vishwanathan Anand motivated me to be consistent and polite in the journey of life. Chess originated in India, but it became famous because of one person, Vishy Anand (India’s first Grandmaster). The book “Mind Master’ depicts his extraordinary journey, self-belief, and hard work. With sixty-four squares and thirty-two pieces, chess is not just a game; it is about mastering your mind in times of pressure. Of course, there will be tough challenges, but all we have to do is train ourselves to be tougher.
The five-time world champion has shown persistence for more than 25 years as India’s number one. His journey is incredible, and as an aspiring chess player, I thoroughly enjoyed reading “Mind Master’, and I recommend it to every chess lover.
Playing it my way
So far in my life, I have read just one autobiography. It is the life story of none other than the ‘God of Cricket – Sachin Tendulkar. It is titled “Playing It My Way” and co-authored by Boria Majumdar. The book is not merely a record of Tendulkars scores, instead it gives us an account of a much-celebrated man’s life in a way that only an autobiography can. The book is really very inspirational. I was truly inspired by each and every chapter. Many young Indians, like me, aspire to play international cricket someday. And, this autobiography is quite motivating, but at the same time, it shows us the reality of the game as well. It shows us the hardships one has to face to be successful in the field of cricket. Throughout his career, Tendulkar had to overcome many obstacles, but the manner in which he kept going and standing up tall again is noteworthy.
This book also taught me moral values and it is definitely more than just a cricketer’s autobiography. It’s true that not every person is as fortunate as Tendulkar to have an elder brother like Ajit or a coach like Ramakant Achrekar. Not everyone is able to debut for India at the age of 16 either. However, this book offers many insights and is a must read for any cricket fan. The autobiography of the man with 100 international centuries’ has undoubtedly been immensely inspiring.
Straight from the attic
It was a rainy evening when my father gifted me a book with a green and yellow cover with a picture of a smiling girl embossed on it. It was a surprise gift for my 13th birthday. Surprised at its size. I kept caressing the book the whole night. Every day I turned its pages as I devoured the book. I couldn’t help but think that the girl who wrote the book (from June 12, 1942, on her 13th birthday till 1st August 1944) might never have imagined that her diary would give sleepless nights to a boy in India, faraway from where she lived. That girl was none other than Annelies Marie “Anne” Frank, a German-Dutch of Jewish heritage and one of the most known victims of the Holocaust. When I reached the last page which talks about the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where the typhus pandemic spreads and claims Frank’s life, I began weeping helplessly. The Annexe where she hid from the Nazis feels similar to the attic in my house. After finishing the book, I began to record my days too. I included a few sketches in my diary as well.
In Kalam’s words
“The story of my life has become intertwined with the story of this country. Somewhere along, I met a million children across this land, I too learnt from a million minds. This book was not written to only tell my story; I want every young reader to think that this book is his/her story too.” -An excerpt from the book “My Life”
The late A.P. J Abdul Kalam is one of the most inspiring figures of independent India. A scientist, leader, thinker, teacher and writer, he achieved remarkable success in various fields. Yet, what endeared him to so many was his dedication to the idea of a developed India, his simple and direct way of interacting with people and his deep love for his fellow humans.
In his book “My Life”, Kalam writes his life story, starting from his days growing up at Rameswaram to working in India’s space and missile programmes and his years as the 11th president of India.
Full of anecdotes that demonstrate the importance of hard work, commitment, courage and innovative thinking, this autobiography is a wonderful introduction to a remarkable life, beautifully illustrated and simply written. It will inspire readers of all ages.
Becoming Obama
“Becoming” is the autobiography of the former First Lady of the U.S., Michelle Obama. What I like about the is that it is simple and moving- there are no loud messages, no “do this and become famous and change the world once and for all”, no “because I did this you should do too”. It’s just simple and relatable to everyone and fills you with hope and contentment. “Becoming” traces Michelle’s life from her simple childhood with her parents and brother in their small apartment and extended family to her education and how she was one of the few African Americans in her college. She narrates how she met her husband Barack Obama and their social activities that eventually propelled him to become the president of the country. She humbly tells these experiences in a way that makes you feel whatever she did is something you can do too. She gives the message that if you work hard enough, you would be able to become the person you aspire to be and this motivates me to keep on going.
“Wings of Fire”
This autobiography of one of the most loved personalities of our country, the late A PJ Abdul Kalam is a wonderful read. Not only does it contain the details of the author’s life, but also a wealth of wise words and life values. Kalam describes his career in aero-space engineering in considerable detail. The whole book overflows with the sort of knowledge that comes only after a great deal of experience. While reading, we feel as if we are ‘riding along with the author over the moors of life. Kalam has written about many incidents in his life, and presented them in a way which motivates and inspires the reader. A remarkable feature of this book is its deeply philosophical nature. Kalam provides plenty of food for thought. A true visionary, he delves into India’s future and achievements. Kalam’s immense patriotism is manifest in this book. All in all, this book is an inspiration for all who read it.
Gunjan Saxena
Reading the autobiography “The Kargil Girl” by Gunjan Saxena and Kiran Nirvan motivated me to become a fighter jet pilot. Gunjan who is also called as ‘The Kargil Girl’came from an army background. Her father and brother are from the army.. And they inspired her to join in the Indian Air Force (IAF). Through this book, Gunjan shares her experience, memories and the hurdles she faced at the academy. As the Kargil war broke in the 1999, she was called in for medical evacuation, dropping off supplies and reconnaissance at that time. She was assigned to a Cheetah/Chetak unit in Udhampur, whose primary job was forward air control and to fly in combat. She was the India’s first woman Air Force Officer who went to war.
Malala Yousafzai
“I Am Malala” is an autobiography written by Malala Yousafzai, a children’s educational rights activist. The language in the book is easy to read and comprehend. The book is about Malala’s life in Pakistan as a young girl and thereafter in Birmingham, following an attempt to assassinate her in 2012. This book also inspired a film, “He Named Me Malala”. Malala grew up in Swat, Pakistan. Her father was very supportive of girls’ education. Inspired by her father, Malala started giving speeches encouraging girls to attend school and continue their education.
In 2012, at the age of 11, when Malala was on the bus to school, she was shot at by the Taliban. Thankfully, she recovered, and on her 16th birthday, she spoke in the United Nations. Due to her activism, she won one of the highest honours in the world – the Nobel Peace Prize.
This book has inspired me to be brave and have the confidence and determination to make a positive impact on society. This is a book that leaves a lasting impression on every person.
The flying Sikh
Most inspirational and motivational autobiography I read is ‘The Race of My Life”. It is an autobiography of Milkha Singh. He inspired me as he was the best athlete India has ever seen. He was also known as the Flying Sikh. Singh is remembered for his fourth place finish in the 400 metres final at 1960 Olympics. Various records were broken by him. Singh died of COVID-19 complications on June 18, 2021 at the age of 91. We miss him very much.
“Towards Freedom”
It’s hard to choose just one autobiography that inspired me, but if I had to pick it would be Jawaharlal Nehru’s autobiography, “Towards Freedom”. He wrote this book when he was in prison from June 1934 to February 1935. This book inspires me a lot because Nehru writes about his struggle and the sacrifices he made for the country. It also includes detailed contributions of many other people who helped make India a sovereign, democratic and republican country.
“Serve to Win”
The book “Serve to Win” by Novak Djokovic tells us about how the tennis star grew up in Belgrade, Serbia, where the locals did not pay much attention to lawn tennis.
Djokovic describes how he went on to become one of the greats in the sport. The autobiography motivates me with its message that there is a solution to every problem. Djokovic writes about how he continued to practice along with his coach even as Belgrade was getting bombed by NATO forces and there was rubble all around. According to him, all that matters in life is physical and spiritual exercise and having the right role models. He even overcame physical problems including asthma and gluten allergy to excel in his favourite sport. Djokovic shows me that with grit and hard work we can reach our goal. It’s amazing to see how he is not all talk, but has actually proved himself by winning his 20th Grand Slam recently. The book motivates us to focus on our goal, no matter what comes our way.
Anne Frank
One autobiography which motivated me is ‘The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank. This beautifully written memoir showcases how difficult life was during the Holocaust. The book starts with the author giving us an insight into her normal life. But one day everything changes and Anne and her family are forced to go into hiding. Anne’s life in seclusion seems hopeless. Despite this, she always stays cheerful and happy. This book also explores Anne’s relationship with her acquaintances and her adolescent experiences, all of which she documents in her diary, whom she calls ‘Kitty’. Unfortunately, Anne’s story does not have a happy ending as she was whisked off to a concentration camp, where she eventually bid farewell to the world. She was survived by her father, Otto Frank, who published her diary a few years later. This book motivated me to always stay cheerful against the adversities in life.
The Girl Who Stood Up For Education
Reading “I am Malala” by Malala Yousafzai motivated me. Malala describes her journey from her birth to childhood and advocating for education for girls. She motivates us to not to give up and stand up for what we believe as after being shot by the Taliban she did not stop, in fact, became stronger than before. Everyone has a voice but she used hers to propagate the importance of education. Her story taught people especially children that the privilege of going to school is not granted to everyone. She proved that age is just a number and became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Picture Credit : Google
