When Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Indian astronaut Shubanshu Shukla aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday, it wasn’t just a ceremonial gesture. It was a reaffirmation of a national ambition—India’s determined march towards becoming a global space power. His words weren’t hollow optics; they were filled with vision, purpose, and a call to elevate Indian scientific endeavour beyond Earth’s atmosphere. This marks a moment of reckoning for India’s space program. Shukla, now part of a prestigious three-nation mission with NASA and SpaceX, is more than just a spacefarer—he is a symbol of what young India can dream and achieve with the right leadership, direction, and investment. Modi’s direct conversation with him was deeply symbolic. The Prime Minister not only applauded Shukla’s pioneering role but made it clear that the knowledge and experience gathered from such missions will directly feed into India’s own Gaganyaan project—a bold step towards placing Indian astronauts into space from Indian soil. Modi’s enthusiasm wasn’t performative. At 75, his curiosity, clarity, and ambition for the space sector stand in stark contrast to the political indifference of the past. He spoke not only of sending astronauts into space, but of building an Indian International Space Station and embedding scientific research into the nation’s long-term developmental strategy. For a country eyeing its rightful place among the global elite, this isn’t science fiction—it’s strategic vision. Let’s be honest: ISRO’s legacy has always been one of brilliance constrained by budgetary shackles. From Aryabhata to Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan, Indian scientists have delivered world-class results at a fraction of global costs. But the lack of political will and investment during previous regimes kept ISRO from achieving even more. The Indian space story could have been far richer if successive Congress-led governments had shown even half the interest Modi has demonstrated.
Worse still, under those regimes, ISRO suffered not just from neglect but from infamy. Who can forget the appalling ISRO spy scandal of the 1990s, where an honest scientist like Nambi Narayanan was arrested, humiliated, and betrayed by his own government? That grotesque episode derailed critical satellite technology programs for years, pushed India back in the global space race, and cast a long shadow over institutional trust. It wasn’t just a personal tragedy—it was a national sabotage. Contrast that with the last decade under Modi. Since 2014, India’s space ambitions have been supercharged. From Chandrayaan-2’s daring attempt to land on the moon to the recent success of Chandrayaan-3’s soft landing at the lunar south pole, ISRO has received unprecedented support and visibility. The Aditya L1 solar mission, the rapid development of the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program, and the increasing number of commercial satellite launches all point to a rejuvenated ISRO, backed by both vision and funding. Modi understands what space means—not just for prestige, but for sovereignty, security, and self-reliance. As the geopolitical dynamics of space change—with militarization, commercial race, and global tech competition—India cannot afford to be a backbencher. A dedicated Indian space station would not only enhance our research capabilities but also project soft power, create global collaborations, and signal that India is in the space game for the long haul. Let’s also not forget the inspirational value of this. When children in India see someone like Shubanshu Shukla speaking to the Prime Minister from space, it plants seeds of curiosity, courage, and confidence. Modi’s message wasn’t just to the astronaut—it was to every Indian child looking up at the stars. In the end, space is not the final frontier—it is the next arena for nations to assert themselves intellectually, technologically, and strategically. And with Modi at the helm, India has not just launched rockets—it has launched a mission of purpose. The countdown to “Viksit Bharat” is ticking. And the launchpad is already rumbling.
