New Delhi, June 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force officer currently stationed aboard the International Space Station (ISS) via video conferencing on Saturday (June 28). Indian Air Force (IAF) officer and Axiom-4 Mission Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is the first Indian who stepped on the ISS.
During the historic conversation, PM Modi expressed pride in Shukla’s achievements and highlighted India’s growing role in space exploration. Prime Minister's Office (PMO) informed about the conversation between PM Modi and Shubhanshu Shukla. PMO India tweeted, "PM @narendramodi interacted with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is aboard the International Space Station."
Excerpts From Their Conversation:
PM Modi: Aap aaj Matrubhumi se sabse duur hai, lekin Bharatwasiyon ke dilon ke sabse qareeb hai. Aapke naam mein bhi ‘Shubh’ hai, aur aapki yatra naye yug ka shubharambh hai. Abhi baat hum kar rahe hain, lekin mere saath 140 crore Bharatwasiyon ki bhavnayein bhi hain. Meri awaaz mein sabhi Bhartiyon ka utsaah aur umang shaamil hai. Antariksh mein Bharat ka parcham lehrane ke liye main aapko hardik badhai aur shubhkaamnayein deta hoon.
PM Modi: Sabse pehle toh yeh bataiye, wahan sab kushal mangal hai? Aapki tabiyat toh theek hai?
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla: Ji Pradhanmantri ji, bahut bahut dhanyawad aapki aur mere 140 crore deshvasiyon ki wishes ke liye. Main yahan theek hoon, surakshit hoon. Aap logon ke pyaar aur blessings ki wajah se bahut accha lag raha hai. Bahut hi naya experience hai yeh. Kahin na kahin yeh cheezein darshaati hain ki hamara desh kis disha mein ja raha hai. Yeh sirf meri yatra nahi hai, yeh mere desh ki yatra hai. Aapke netritva mein naya Bharat humein yeh mauka de raha hai.
PM Modi: Aap jo gajar ka halwa le gaye hain, kya use apne saathiyon ko khilaya?
Shubh: Ji Pradhanmantri ji, kuch khaas cheezein main apne desh se leke aaya hoon—gajar ka halwa, moong dal ka halwa aur aam ras. Bharat ka jo rich culinary heritage hai, uska sabne anand liya. Sabko bahut pasand aaya, aur ab toh sab yeh keh rahe hain ki kab woh neeche jaayein aur hamare desh ko visit karein.
The interaction underscored the country's commitment to advancing its space capabilities and inspiring future generations of scientists and astronauts.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey to the International Space Station marks a historic milestone in India’s space ambitions. As he carries a small Indian flag with him, Shukla remarked that it represents all 140 crore Indians, a powerful symbol of national pride and progress.
His mission is India’s most ambitious human spaceflight effort since Rakesh Sharma’s iconic voyage 41 years ago, when Sharma became the first Indian in space aboard a Soviet spacecraft.
Unlike his predecessor, Shukla is not just a space traveler - he is the first Indian to be stationed on the ISS for a full 14 days, actively participating in space research.
Assigned 30 scientific experiments in microgravity, his work spans critical areas like biology, material sciences, fluid mechanics and space medicine.
These studies hold the potential to advance our understanding of long-term human survival in space, highlighting the growing global trust in India’s scientific and technological prowess.
