IAF Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on Monday said it is only a matter of time before the world talks about ISRO over NASA, as India continues to advance rapidly in space exploration. “Since returning to India, I have felt an incredible excitement among people about our space achievements. The National Space Day (August 23) has only been celebrated for two years, yet the energy around it was tremendous. “As the Deputy Chief Minister (Keshav Prasad Maurya) said, the day is not far when people will speak of ISRO over NASA. I believe this is not a dream, but a reality waiting to happen,” Shukla said at a civic reception in Lucknow, his hometown, celebrating his visit to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a successful Axiom-4 mission.

 

Shukla, who was visibly moved by the warm welcome, added with a smile, “Since I landed in Lucknow around 7:30 this morning, I must have clicked about 2,000 selfies. The famous saying, ‘Muskuraiye, Aap Lucknow Mein Hain’ (Smile, you’re in Lucknow) truly came alive for me today.” The felicitation ceremony at the official residence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, state BJP president Bhupendra Chaudhary, and Shukla’s family members, including his wife Kamna, mother Asha, and father Shambhu Shukla. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan was also present.

 

Reflecting on his journey, Shukla said the excitement he witnessed in Delhi upon his arrival in India was “doubled” when he reached his hometown Lucknow. “Coming home to such a heartfelt welcome was overwhelming. I am deeply grateful for the love and pride the people have shown towards me,” he said. UP to launch scholarship in Shukla’s name: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday announced a new scholarship in the name of astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian man to travel to the International Space Station (ISS), which will support students from the state pursuing higher education in space technology. The announcement came during a felicitation ceremony for Shukla, who recently returned from the historic Axiom-4 mission to the.