Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 25 (ANI): Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the second Indian to reach space and the first in 41 years, received a rousing welcome in his hometown Lucknow on Monday.
Students lined the roads waving the tricolour and cheering enthusiastically during a grand road show. Children expressed joy and pride as Shukla made his way to the City Montessori School in Gomtinagar for a felicitation ceremony.
Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak welcomed Shukla at Lucknow Airport. Calling it a “big day” for Lucknow, Pathak said, “The son of Lucknow and India, Shubhanshu Shukla’s arrival is being awaited by the whole of Lucknow. He is an inspiration for the youth. We welcome him with warmth and love.”
Speaking to ANI, Shukla’s mother expressed her excitement at seeing her son after 1.5 years. “My son is coming home after such a long period. We are very happy and the whole family has come to receive him,” she said.
Shukla had returned to Earth on July 15 after completing NASA’s Axiom-4 (AX-4) space mission and landed in Delhi on August 17.
At the felicitation ceremony, Shukla delivered an inspirational message to children, saying that India is currently experiencing a “golden period” in space exploration.
“I have a message for the children sitting at the back. We will send a human in the Gaganyaan mission, Bharatiya Antariksh Station will be built, and in 2040, someone will definitely go to the moon. You will be ready by then. I, too, will be in the competition. This is our golden period for space exploration,” Shukla said.
On a lighter note, he added, “Since morning, I must have posed for over 2000 selfies. I understood the meaning of ‘muskuraiye, aap Lucknow mein hain’ today.”
Shukla highlighted that the biggest success of his mission was opening new opportunities for micro-gravity research. He further expressed confidence that in the near future, people would talk about ISRO instead of NASA.
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, present at the ceremony, praised India’s rapid progress in space technology, noting that 93% of India’s satellite launches in the last decade have taken place under the current government. He revealed that ISRO had also identified and fixed a critical flaw in the rocket at Kennedy Space Centre before the AX-4 launch, preventing a potential catastrophe.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also felicitated Shukla at Lok Bhavan, calling his achievement a matter of pride for both the state and the nation.“After four decades, an Indian once again travelled to space, and this historic opportunity came to Lucknow-born Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. His achievement is an inspiration for our youth,” the CM said.
On the occasion, CM Yogi announced a scholarship in Shukla’s name for students pursuing careers in space technology. He directed the State’s Science and Technology Department to benefit from Shukla’s expertise and highlighted that over a dozen institutions in Uttar Pradesh now offer courses in space technology.
He said Shukla’s experience would help address climate change, floods, droughts, agricultural challenges, and disaster management. “Shubhanshu’s journey is not just a personal milestone but a source of direction for the nation. His experience will guide us in harnessing space technology for future progress,” Yogi Adityanath added.
Shukla shared some of his space experiences, explaining the physical effects of microgravity on the human body. “When you reach the space station, blood rushes to the head, the heart slows down, and even your stomach contents float. You don’t feel hungry, and survival becomes a challenge. Yet, through engineering, we sustain life in an environment where it shouldn’t exist. When India launches its first mission, we will be the fourth nation in the world with this capability,” he said.
Praising CM Yogi’s leadership, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan said Uttar Pradesh’s rapid development is now a source of inspiration for other states. He noted that UP’s transformation in science and technology under Yogi’s governance has been remarkable.
The event was also attended by Deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, BJP State President Bhupendra Chaudhary, senior ministers, Mayor Sushma Kharkwal, and ISRO officials. (ANI)
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