Gajar Ka Halwa To India From Space: Top Moments From PM Modi's Chat With Shubhanshu Shukla
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is aboard the International Space Station as part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, engaged in a deep conversation via video conferencing, covering a range of topics.
Shubhanshu Shukla, along with three fellow astronauts, lifted off for the International Space Station on June 25 aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center as part of the Axiom-4 mission.
At first, the Prime Minister extended his best wishes to the Group Captain and inquired about his well-being in space. 'I congratulate you on hoisting India's flag in space. First of all, tell me — is everything well there? Are you in good health?" asked PM Modi.
'Yes, Prime Minister," Shukla replied.
'Gajar Ka Halwa'
India From Space
When the Prime Minister asked Shukla about his first thought that came to mind upon seeing the vastness of space, the astronaut explained in detail about his experience.
'The first view was of the Earth, and after seeing the Earth from outside, the first thought and the first thing that came to mind was that the Earth looks completely one, no border is visible from outside," said Shukla.
Describing the view of India from space, he said: 'When we saw India for the first time, we saw that India really looks very grand, looks very big, much bigger than what we see on the map. When we see the Earth from outside, it seems that no border exists, no state exists, no countries exist. We all are part of humanity, and the Earth is our one home."
#WATCH | Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla says '…When we saw India for the first time, we saw that India looks very grand, very big, much bigger than what we see on the map… When we see the Earth from outside, it seems that no border exists, no state exists, and no countries… pic.twitter.com/iVOBPmkHIP — ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2025
While replying to PM Modi's question about his current position in space, Shukla mentioned that a short while ago, while gazing out of the window, they were flying over Hawaii.
He noted that from orbit, astronauts witness sunrise and sunset 16 times a day and added that the nation is advancing at a rapid pace.
Meditation And Mindfulness
During the interaction, Shukla explained that mindfulness plays a vital role in staying calm, especially given the many stressful situations encountered during training and launch.
He added that mindfulness and meditation greatly aid in making sound decisions.
'India is progressing at a swift pace…India will have its stations in space…Mindfulness plays a significant role in maintaining calmness, as there are many stressful situations during training and launch. Mindfulness and meditation help a lot in making good decisions," Shukla said.
The Group Captain also conveyed a message to the youth, noting that India has envisioned bold and ambitious dreams, and fulfilling them requires the contribution of the younger generation.
He stressed that while there is no single path to success, persistent effort is the one constant, and with continued determination, success is inevitable, whether it arrives sooner or later.
Axiom-4 Mission
Shukla made history on Thursday by becoming the first Indian astronaut to reach the ISS, as the Axiom-4 mission successfully docked with the orbiting lab 28 hours after launch.
The Axiom-4 mission marks a commercial effort between Houston-based Axiom Space and NASA. Over the course of their 14-day stay aboard the International Space Station, the crew will carry out 60 scientific experiments, including seven proposed by Indian scientists.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, now the second Indian to venture into space after Rakesh Sharma's 1984 journey, is also expected to take part in a space-to-Earth outreach event, which may include a high-level interaction from orbit.
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New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
June 28, 2025, 19:30 IST
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