PM Modi interacts with Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on ISS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with Shubhanshu Shukla aboard the International Space Station as part of the Axiom-4 mission. Modi congratulated Shukla on behalf of 140 crore Indians, saying he was closest to Indian hearts despite being far from the motherland. Shukla thanked Modi for providing opportunities to fulfill dreams and described India from space as grand and bigger than on the map.

Shukla shared that he took Indian desserts like gajar ka halwa, moong dal ka halwa, and aam ras to share with others on the mission. He mentioned that from space, Earth looked borderless and united, emphasizing humanity's oneness. Shukla, the first Indian to cross the 'Karman line' in over 41 years, marked the beginning of India's human space flight program.

The Axiom-4 crew, including Shukla, successfully docked with the ISS, making Shukla the first Indian to set foot on the orbiting lab. The docking process was completed on Thursday, following a remarkable journey for Shukla.