NEW DELHI, June 28 — In a landmark moment for India’s space ambitions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a video conference with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian Air Force officer currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission. Their conversation, echoing a historic 1984 exchange between Indira Gandhi and astronaut Rakesh Sharma, stirred patriotic fervour as chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ rang out aboard the ISS.
Calling Shukla’s mission a proud step toward India’s upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, Modi said, “You are farthest from India, but closest to the hearts of all Indians.” He hailed Shukla’s achievement as symbolic of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India) and an inspiration to millions.
Shukla, who hails from Lucknow, described his mission not as a personal feat but a collective national triumph. “This journey belongs to every Indian. When I saw India from space for the first time, it looked much grander than any map. From up here, you don’t see borders — you only feel the oneness of humanity,” he said.
The moment drew immediate comparisons to the iconic 1984 conversation between astronaut Rakesh Sharma and then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. When asked how India looked from space, Sharma famously replied, “Saare jahaan se achcha” — a phrase that became part of Indian space history.
Officials said Saturday’s conversation not only marked a technological milestone but also served as a cultural and emotional bridge connecting India’s space past with its future. Shukla’s presence aboard the ISS under the Axiom-4 private mission reflects India’s expanding role in international space collaboration and signals its preparedness for independent human spaceflight.
Modi concluded the interaction with encouragement for India’s youth to pursue science and innovation. “You have shown the way — now a whole generation will follow you to the stars,” he said.
The Axiom-4 mission, launched earlier this month, includes astronauts from multiple countries and aims to advance microgravity research, with Shukla being the first Indian military officer to live and work aboard the ISS.
