Lucknow’s Hero Returns: Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Gets Roaring Welcome in Hometown
Astronaut and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla received a hero’s welcome in his hometown of Lucknow on Monday, returning to a city buzzing with pride and excitement after his historic space mission. Shukla, who recently spent nearly 20 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission, was greeted by a massive crowd of cheering supporters, school children, and proud family members.
Shukla arrived at Lucknow Airport to a rapturous reception, where he was personally welcomed by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak. “Today is a big day for Lucknow. The son of Bharat, the son of Lucknow, set foot in Lucknow,” Pathak said. “Ever since he returned to earth from space, the people of Lucknow were eagerly waiting for his arrival. Today, that moment is finally here. We welcome Shubhanshu Shukla with warmth and love.”
Following his arrival, Shukla was scheduled to be felicitated at a grand ceremony at City Montessori School in Gomtinagar, an event to be attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, among other prominent leaders. An accomplished Indian Air Force pilot, Shukla made history as the first Indian to set foot on the ISS, having launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 26.
Praise has poured in from the highest levels of government. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described Shukla as a symbol of courage and dedication, stating, “Your achievement is a proud symbol of courage, dedication, and commitment to science. Today, every Indian, especially the people of Uttar Pradesh, feels honoured.” On Sunday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also felicitated Shukla and his astronaut colleagues.
Reflecting on his journey, Shukla lauded the Axiom-4 mission as a “big achievement for our country,” emphasizing that the learnings will be crucial for India’s future space ambitions, including the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, the planned Bharatiya Antriksh Station, and eventual lunar landings.
