New Delhi, June 28, 2025 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke via video link with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is currently orbiting Earth aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission, calling his journey a historic step toward India’s future in human space exploration.
In a conversation brimming with national pride, chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” echoed on the ISS as Modi praised the Lucknow-born astronaut’s achievement. “You are farthest from India, but closest to the hearts of all Indians,” the Prime Minister told Shukla, emphasizing that his space mission would add momentum to India’s goal of becoming a “Viksit Bharat” (developed India).
Shukla, reflecting on his experiences, told the Prime Minister that seeing India from space made it appear “much larger and grander than on the map.” He added, “You can truly feel the sense of oneness—there are no borders, no lines. It feels as if this entire Earth is our home and we are all its citizens.”
The astronaut shared that he even introduced his fellow crew members aboard the ISS to traditional Indian delicacies like gajar ka halwa and aam ras, a gesture highlighting cultural connections even in space.
The exchange evoked memories of India’s historic moment in space history in 1984, when then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi famously asked astronaut Rakesh Sharma, “Upar se Bharat kaisa dikhta hai aapko?” Sharma’s legendary reply, “Saare jahaan se achcha,” remains etched in the nation’s memory as a symbol of pride and patriotism.
Modi underscored that Shukla’s mission represents the first step toward India’s ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight program, marking India’s rising prominence in global space exploration.
PM Modi Hails Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s ISS Mission as Milestone for India’s Space Aspirations
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