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The 'Bharat mata ki jai' slogan reverberated on the International Space Station as Prime Minister Narendra Modi told astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla that his space travel was the first step towards India's Gaganyaan mission. Interacting with PM Modi, who is aboard the ISS orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 400 km, Shukla shared a message for young generations where he stressed working hard to pursue dreams and added a popular phrase, "sky is not the limit".

Shukla said his travel to the space station was not just a personal feat but a collective achievement of the entire nation. "When I saw India for the first time from space, it appeared much larger and grander than on the map," Shukla told the Prime Minister in a video link from the space station. "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," Shukla said.

Shukla recounted the journey in space where he expressed satisfaction in witnessing sunrise and sunset 16 times a day. "We see sunrise and sunset 16 times a day from the orbit...Our nation is moving forward at a very great pace...," he said.

Shukla's message to young generation

During his interaction with Prime Minister Modi, Shukla said that the message he wished to convey to the younger generation was that India had always envisioned bold and lofty dreams, and fulfilling those dreams required the involvement of every individual. He emphasised that there was no single path to success, but one common element across all journeys was the importance of never giving up. If this basic mantra was followed, he added, "success might come today or tomorrow, but it would certainly come eventually".

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"The message I would like to give our young generation is that India has seen very bold and high dreams and to fulfil those dreams, we need all of you. There is no single way to success, but one thing that is common in every path is that you should never stop trying. If you adopt this basic mantra, then success may come today or tomorrow, but it will definitely come...," he said.

"I want to send a message to the younger generation that if you work hard, the future of the nation will be good...The sky is never the limit...," said Shukla.

"You may be far from us, but the hearts of 140 crore Indians beat with you," said PM Modi, congratulating Shubhanshu for raising the nation's pride globally. "Your name itself carries the word "Shubh" (auspicious). And your journey symbolises the direction in which "˜New India' is heading," he said.

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Responding with humility, Shubhanshu said, "This journey is not mine alone. It belongs to every Indian. When I was young, I never imagined becoming an astronaut, but under your leadership, this dream came true." The young astronaut also lauded the rising development which the country is witnessing and said, "Today, what we are aiming at is now not far from reality. We need collective unity, and we need all the strength from our youth." 

Moment PM Modi quips 

In a lighter moment, PM Modi asked if he shared Indian food with fellow astronauts. "Yes, I brought some memories of India with me, gajar ka halwa, moong dal halwa, and aamras. I wanted my colleagues here to taste our rich culinary heritage," Shubhanshu said with a smile.

As PM Modi praised the astronaut's "down-to-earth" nature despite being in zero gravity, Shubhanshu described the awe of seeing Earth from space. "From up here, there are no borders "just one planet, one humanity. India looks vast and unified. Borders vanish, and you realise Earth is our one shared home."

Discussing scientific experiments that he will be conducting in this mission, Shubhanshu highlighted India's breakthrough research in zero gravity. "I've brought here seven new experiments conducted by Indian scientists. We're testing how stem cell supplements may help delay muscle loss, something that could benefit the elderly back home. We're also studying micro-algae for agricultural and health uses."

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PM Modi emphasised India's twin strengths of science and spirituality. "Does meditation help in space, too?" PM asked. To this, Shubhanshu confirmed, "Absolutely. Mindfulness keeps us centred amid extreme conditions.

(With inputs from agencies)

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