PM Modi’s Heartfelt Interaction with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Aboard the ISS
Saturday, June 28, 2025
New Delhi, June 28, 2025: In a landmark moment for India’s space journey, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS) and the second Indian to venture beyond Earth’s atmosphere, shared his awe-inspiring experiences in a video interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 28, 2025.
As part of NASA’s Axiom-4 mission, Shukla launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:01 PM IST on June 25. After a 28-hour journey, the crew docked with the ISS’s Harmony module at 4:01 PM IST, with their official arrival at 5:44 PM IST.
During the conversation, PM Modi expressed immense pride, stating, “You are closest to the hearts of Indians,” and highlighted the auspiciousness of Shukla’s name, marking his mission as the dawn of a new era for India’s space program. Representing the sentiments of 140 crore Indians, Modi congratulated Shukla for hoisting the Indian flag in space and inquired about his well-being. Shukla, a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, expressed gratitude for the support of 1.4 billion Indians and described his journey as a collective achievement under Modi’s leadership, which has opened new opportunities for Indians to realize their dreams.
The interaction took a delightful turn when PM Modi playfully asked if Shukla had brought gajar ka halwa to space. Shukla confirmed he had carried gajar ka halwa, moong dal ka halwa, and aam ras, sharing these Indian delicacies with his international crewmates to showcase India’s culinary richness. He noted that everyone enjoyed the experience, adding a cultural touch to the mission.
When asked about adapting to space, Shukla explained the challenges of a gravity-free environment, where even sleeping required adjustment. He described his training but emphasized that the reality of space was uniquely different. Reflecting on his first view of Earth, Shukla shared a profound perspective: from space, Earth appears unified, with no visible borders, states, or countries. He described India as grand and expansive, reinforcing a sense of global unity and shared humanity.
This historic interaction underscores India’s growing stature in space exploration and the pride of 1.4 billion Indians in Shukla’s achievements.
Watch the full conversation here: PM Modi’s Interaction with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.
Keywords: Shubhanshu Shukla, PM Narendra Modi, International Space Station, Axiom-4 mission, Indian astronaut, ISRO, space exploration, NASA, Indian Air Force, gajar ka halwa, space mission, Earth from space, Indian space program, Gaganyatri