In a moment steeped in nostalgia and national pride, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s latest spacefarer, echoed the legendary words of Rakesh Sharma, declaring that “India looks truly majestic from space.” The statement came during a live interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the International Space Station (ISS), 41 years after Sharma famously said “Saare Jahan Se Achha” in response to a similar question from then PM Indira Gandhi.
🚀 A Historic Echo from Orbit
Shukla, part of the Axiom-4 mission, became the first Indian to reach the ISS, marking a new chapter in India’s human spaceflight journey. During the conversation, he shared:
“India looks truly majestic and much larger than what we perceive on maps. The feeling of oneness that the Earth gives, the very essence of our motto ‘Unity in Diversity’, becomes deeply meaningful when seen from above”.
He added that from space, borders and divisions disappear, reinforcing the idea that “we are all citizens of one shared home—Earth.”
🇮🇳 From Sharma to Shukla: A 41-Year Journey
- Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian in space in 1984, aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 mission
- His iconic response—“Saare Jahan Se Achha Hindustan Hamara”—became a symbol of patriotic pride
- Shukla, born a year after Sharma’s mission, followed in his footsteps as a test pilot before being selected for the Axiom-4 crew
🛰️ Axiom-4: India’s Leap into Commercial Spaceflight
Launched aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, the Axiom-4 mission docked with the ISS on June 27, making Shukla the first Indian to cross the Kármán line in over four decades. His 14-day mission includes:
- Conducting seven Indian-led scientific experiments
- Participating in over 60 microgravity research activities
- Representing India in a global private spaceflight collaboration
🗣️ PM Modi: “You’re Far from India, But Close to Every Indian’s Heart”
During the 18-minute interaction, PM Modi praised Shukla’s achievement as a symbol of India’s rising space ambitions, saying:
“Today you are farthest from your motherland but closest to the hearts of 140 crore Indians”.
Shukla responded with gratitude, calling the mission “not just mine, but the journey of the whole nation.”
Stay tuned for updates on Shukla’s mission and India’s space odyssey.
