From secret NDA exam during sister's wedding to India's first man on ISS: Shubhanshu Shukla's incredible journey
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla
gets ready to become the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (
ISS
) on Wednesday, a childhood story from Lucknow shows how determined he has always been.
As per a TOI report, in December 2001, during his elder sister Shuchi Shukla's wedding, young Shubhanshu went missing for several hours. His family became worried, and his father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, was angry at what he thought was careless behaviour. Later that day, Shubhanshu returned on his bicycle, tired but calm. He simply said, 'Now, tell me what to do.'
He had secretly gone to take the National Defence Academy (
NDA
) exam. His inspiration? An
Indian Air Force
(IAF) airshow at Bakshi-ka-Talab that he had seen earlier.
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His sister Shuchi, now a teacher in Lucknow, remembers that day clearly. 'Gunjan, that's his nickname, was 14 when the Kargil War happened. It had a deep impact on him,' she says. 'Two years later, he quietly took an NDA form from a friend and applied without telling anyone. We only found out the truth after he passed the exam.'
Their father, a retired government officer, had scolded him at the time. But now, he is full of pride. 'We are proud of Gunjan, not just as a family, but as Indians,' he says from their home in Triveni Nagar. 'His posters are everywhere. We are all praying for his success.'
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Shubhanshu joined the IAF as a fighter pilot in June 2006. He became a Fighter Combat Leader and Test Pilot, flying more than 2,000 hours in jets like the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, and Hawk.
His mother Asha was worried when he said he wanted to become an astronaut. 'She told him to stay on Earth,' laughs Shuchi. But just like with the NDA exam, he quietly applied for ISRO's Gaganyaan Mission without telling his family.
Now 39, Shubhanshu is the youngest of three siblings. His other sister Nidhi has an MBA degree. His wife Kamna is a dentist, and they have a six-year-old son named Kiash. He is the first person from their family to join the armed forces.
At home, he rarely talks about work. Shuchi remembers that during the 2019 Balakot airstrike, the family couldn't reach him for a few days. When she finally spoke to him, she asked if he was involved. He simply replied, 'Let it be, Didi. Let's talk about something else.'
His family is proud of his calm nature and strong focus. 'From NDA to Gaganyaan, Gunjan never changed his mind,' says Shuchi. His father adds, 'He is ready for this mission. He always does his duty perfectly.'
Now, as Shubhanshu prepares for
Axiom Mission 4
(Ax-4) to the ISS, supported by ISRO's Rs 500 crore project, his family in Lucknow watches with pride.
"The boy who once cycled back from his NDA exam, inspired by the roar of fighter jets, is now carrying India's hopes into space," says Shuchi.
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