Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his best wishes to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and inquired about his well-being in space.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is aboard the International Space Station as part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, engaged in a deep conversation via video conferencing, covering a range of topics.
Shubhanshu Shukla, along with three fellow astronauts, lifted off for the International Space Station on June 25 aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center as part of the Axiom-4 mission.
At first, the Prime Minister extended his best wishes to the Group Captain and inquired about his well-being in space. “I congratulate you on hoisting India’s flag in space. First of all, tell me — is everything well there? Are you in good health?” asked PM Modi.
“Yes, Prime Minister,” Shukla replied.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is aboard the International Space Station.
PM Modi says “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… pic.twitter.com/lWOk7AVlL3
— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2025
‘Gajar Ka Halwa’
Shukla brought a taste of home to the cosmos—carrying traditional treats like gajar ka halwa and aamras with him on the Axiom-4 mission.
During the interaction, PM Modi asked: “Every Indian is watching and feeling proud that you remain so grounded — you even carried gajar ka halwa with you. Have you shared it with your fellow astronauts?”
In response, the Indian space star replied: “Yes, I bought gajar ka halwa, moong dal ka halwa and aam ras. I wanted everyone who has joined me from other countries to enjoy the rich Indian cuisine. All of us had it together, and everyone liked it.”
India From Space
When the Prime Minister asked Shukla about his first thought that came to mind upon seeing the vastness of space, the astronaut explained in detail about his experience.
“The first view was of the Earth, and after seeing the Earth from outside, the first thought and the first thing that came to mind was that the Earth looks completely one, no border is visible from outside,” said Shukla.
Describing the view of India from space, he said: “When we saw India for the first time, we saw that India really looks very grand, looks very big, much bigger than what we see on the map. When we see the Earth from outside, it seems that no border exists, no state exists, no countries exist. We all are part of humanity, and the Earth is our one home.”
While replying to PM Modi’s question about his current position in space, Shukla mentioned that a short while ago, while gazing out of the window, they were flying over Hawaii.
He noted that from orbit, astronauts witness sunrise and sunset 16 times a day and added that the nation is advancing at a rapid pace.
Meditation And Mindfulness
During the interaction, Shukla explained that mindfulness plays a vital role in staying calm, especially given the many stressful situations encountered during training and launch.
He added that mindfulness and meditation greatly aid in making sound decisions.
“India is progressing at a swift pace…India will have its stations in space…Mindfulness plays a significant role in maintaining calmness, as there are many stressful situations during training and launch. Mindfulness and meditation help a lot in making good decisions,” Shukla said.
