New Delhi: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s space hero and the nation’s first astronaut to board the International Space Station (ISS), will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence this evening. His return to India on Sunday was marked by an emotional reception at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, where he was welcomed with garlands, cheers, and the presence of senior political leaders and ISRO scientists.
The meeting with the Prime Minister comes after Shukla’s remarkable journey as part of the Axiom-4 mission, where he spent over 20 days in orbit conducting crucial experiments and representing India in an international crew. His mission, hailed globally as a historic step for the country’s space ambitions, has placed India firmly on the map of human space exploration. From space, Shukla had shared both technical updates and personal reflections with the Prime Minister, including the memorable detail of carrying Indian desserts such as gajar ka halwa and aam ras to the ISS.
During his conversations with PM Modi from orbit, Shukla highlighted the deeper meaning of his mission. Looking at Earth from space, he said the world appeared as one home without borders, a reminder of humanity’s shared destiny. The Prime Minister, in turn, tasked him with compiling detailed accounts of his experiences described as “homework” to help advance India’s indigenous human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan. Shukla has since completed that assignment, a step seen as critical to India’s next space milestones.
Shukla’s journey has ignited celebrations across the nation, symbolizing not only personal achievement but also collective pride. The Lok Sabha is expected to hold a special discussion in his honor, underscoring the significance of his mission in inspiring future generations of scientists, engineers, and dreamers. His safe return also signals India’s readiness to scale higher frontiers in space research, paving the way for long-term projects such as the Gaganyaan mission and plans for a future Indian space station.
As he meets Prime Minister Modi tonight, the encounter is expected to be both personal and historic an astronaut carrying the stories of space into the heart of India’s leadership. It is a moment where science, statesmanship, and national aspiration converge, setting the stage for India’s next great leap into the cosmos.