Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS), received a hero’s welcome across the nation after his return, with people hailing him as a symbol of India’s growing space ambitions.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, August 18, 2025 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who recently scripted history by becoming the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS).
During the meeting, Shukla presented the Prime Minister with a mission patch of the Axiom-4 mission, under which he undertook his space journey. The gesture symbolized both the pride of India’s achievement and the country’s growing role in international space collaborations.
Shukla’s return to Earth has been met with an outpouring of admiration and celebration across India. From joyous street processions in his hometown of Lucknow to congratulatory messages pouring in from across the globe, his achievement has been hailed as a landmark moment in the nation’s space journey. Citizens have expressed pride in seeing an Indian astronaut aboard the ISS for the very first time, calling him an inspiration for future generations.
PM Modi meets Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla at LKM pic.twitter.com/i1dALUeFm9
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) August 18, 2025
In an emotional reunion, Shukla also met his family members after returning from space. Photographs of him hugging his parents and sharing a quiet moment with his wife and children have gone viral on social media, adding to the wave of affection and admiration directed towards him. Neighbours and well-wishers gathered outside his family home to welcome their “son of the soil,” turning the event into a celebration of both personal and national pride.
READ: Opinion: Will Gyanesh Kumar Take the Same Oath He Demands of Rahul Gandhi?
Shukla’s mission was part of a commercial crewed flight organized by Axiom Space in partnership with NASA and other international agencies. His successful trip marks a new chapter for India’s human spaceflight ambitions, especially as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) prepares for its own Gaganyaan mission.
Prime Minister Modi congratulated Shukla for his pioneering feat, describing him as a symbol of the aspirations of a young, rising India. He said the nation stands proud of its space scientists and astronauts, whose achievements are propelling India onto the global stage of exploration and innovation.
The government has indicated that Shukla’s mission will be remembered as a turning point in India’s space history, inspiring countless young minds to dream of reaching the stars.
