Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force—the first Indian to enter the International Space Station (ISS). During the conversation, a sweet moment stood out when the Prime Minister asked the astronaut whether he had taken the “gajar ka halwa” with him.
“Yes,” replied Group Captain Shukla with a smile. “I brought gajar ka halwa, moong dal ka halwa, and aam ras. I wanted everyone who joined me from other countries to enjoy the rich Indian culinary. All of us had it together, and everyone liked it,” he added.
PM Modi lauded Shukla’s journey and said, “Today, you are away from our motherland, but you are the closest to the hearts of Indians. Aapke naam mein bhi shubh hai aur aapki yatra naye yug ka shubharambh bhi hai (Your name signifies auspiciousness, and your journey marks the beginning of a new era).”
Speaking from the ISS, Shukla described the surreal experience. “A short while ago, I was looking out of the window and we were flying over Hawaii. We see sunrise and sunset 16 times a day from orbit. I’m absorbing every moment like a sponge,” he said.
Shukla, 39, became the second Indian to reach space and the first to enter the ISS—41 years after Rakesh Sharma’s iconic spaceflight in 1984. His message from the ISS was simple but powerful: “Jai Hind Bharat.”