Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA’s Axiom-4 mission. Shukla’s journey marks India’s return to manned spaceflight after a gap of 41 years.
During the conversation, PM Modi hailed the mission as a “new beginning for a new era” and said, “You may be physically far from India today, but you are closest to the hearts of 1.4 billion Indians.” He added, “Your name carries ‘Shubh’ (auspicious), and your journey marks an auspicious start to this new chapter.”
In a heartfelt response, Group Captain Shukla thanked the PM and the nation for their support. He said, “This journey, though just 400 kilometers into Earth’s orbit, is not mine alone — it belongs to India. I never imagined as a child that I’d become an astronaut. But under your leadership, today’s India offers even dreams like these a chance to come true.”
The conversation also included lighter moments. PM Modi asked whether he shared Indian delicacies with his international colleagues. Shukla responded, “Yes, I brought along carrot halwa, moong dal halwa, and aamras. We all sat together and enjoyed the flavours of India — they loved it!”
When PM Modi quipped about the Indian tradition of “parikrama” (circumambulation), noting that Shukla now orbits the Earth itself, the astronaut shared, “Right now, I’m not sure where exactly we are, but a short while ago we were passing over Hawaii. We orbit the Earth 16 times a day and witness 16 sunrises and sunsets — it’s awe-inspiring.”
This mission symbolizes not only a scientific milestone but also India’s rising prominence in global space exploration. Shukla’s achievements have made him a symbol of inspiration for the nation’s youth.
