Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Meets PM Modi, Gifts Tricolour He Carried to Space
In a moment of immense national pride, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s pioneering astronaut and an Indian Air Force test pilot, met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence in New Delhi on Monday. During the landmark meeting, Shukla presented the Prime Minister with the Indian tricolour that he had carried with him to the International Space Station (ISS) on his historic Ax-4 mission, a powerful symbol of India’s significant strides in human spaceflight.
Shukla shared details of his groundbreaking journey with the Prime Minister, recounting the exhilaration and challenges of being the first Indian astronaut to participate in a long-duration mission aboard the ISS as part of an international crew.
The scientific experiments conducted during the mission, which included studies on human physiology in microgravity and developing new technologies for space agriculture, are considered to have direct and vital implications for India’s own ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight program. A deeply moved Prime Minister Modi lauded Shukla not only for his remarkable technical accomplishments but also for inspiring an entire generation of Indians to dream beyond the confines of Earth.
Earlier in the day, Parliament paid a glowing tribute to Group Captain Shukla for his successful mission. Union Minister of State for Science & Technology, Jitendra Singh, led the commemoration, hailing Shukla’s achievements and underlining their profound significance for India’s aspirations in space exploration.
While the Opposition did not take part in the special discussion, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor took to social media to express his admiration. “Since the Opposition are not participating in the special discussion, let me say how proud all Indians are of the recent mission of Commander Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS),” Tharoor posted on X, emphasizing that the mission was a crucial milestone and a direct stepping stone for the Gaganyaan program.
