| Topic | Details |
| Who is Shubhanshu Shukla? | Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, test pilot, and astronaut selected for Axiom Mission 4; India’s first human to board the ISS since 1984. |
| Education & Background | Alum of City Montessori School, NDA, and the Air Force Academy; trained with ISRO’s Vyomanaut program for Gaganyaan. |
| Relation to Narendra Modi | Represented India’s space achievements during Narendra Modi’s global dialogue on India’s growing space presence. |
| Famous Quote | “Today, you are away from our motherland, but you are the closest to the hearts of Indians.” – PM Modi to Shubhanshu Shukla |
| Where It Was Said | Live video call aboard the International Space Station (ISS), during India’s interaction with Axiom Mission 4 astronauts |
| Date of Exchange | June 28, 2025 |
| Occasion/Setting | Post-docking success of Axiom Mission 4 with the ISS; livestreamed globally as part of India’s space diplomacy narrative |
| Participants/Witnesses | PM Narendra Modi, Shubhanshu Shukla, Axiom Space officials, ISRO representatives, global media, and mission team from NASA & SpaceX |
| Why It Went Viral | Emotional resonance, historic moment of India’s astronaut aboard ISS, powerful messaging of national pride and vision |
| Published By | Times of India, The Economic Times, MSN News, India Today, PMIndia.gov.in, The Pioneer, and New India Abroad |
| Impact | Marked India’s global space comeback, emotional patriotic moment, and gave symbolic launch to Gaganyaan’s human spaceflight ambitions |
“Today, you are away from our motherland, but you are the closest to the hearts of Indians.”
On June 28, 2025, at 6:30 PM IST, screens flickered across Earth as Prime Minister Narendra Modi connected live to the International Space Station (ISS). On the other end hovered Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the pilot of Axiom Mission 4—India’s first astronaut aboard the ISS in over four decades.
Surrounded by Earth’s curvature and cosmic silence, Shukla was moments from tasting 16 sunrises and sunsets a day. It was the perfect stage for a moment that would ripple through the nation.
With warmth, Narendra Modi began:
“Today, you are away from our motherland, but you are the closest to the hearts of Indians.”
It wasn’t just a political statement—it was a million emotional beats compressed into one line.
A Journey from Soil to Stars
Born October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Shubhanshu Shukla joined City Montessori School, then moved on to the National Defence Academy (NDA), the Air Force Academy, and eventually became a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force. With over 2,000 flying hours under his belt, he was selected in 2019 by ISRO’s first Vyomanaut group in preparation for Gaganyaan—cementing his dedication to India’s skyward dreams.
The real game-changer came with Axiom Mission 4—a landmark collaboration between NASA, SpaceX, Axiom Space, and ISRO. As the pilot, Shukla became the first Indian astronaut on ISS since Rakesh Sharma’s historic 1984 mission. His seat aboard the Crew Dragon cost an estimated ₹500 crore, backed by the Indian government in June 2025.
In Orbit: More Than Just a Flight
Once docked at the ISS, Shukla recorded a heartfelt message:
“Namaskar from space. This journey is not just mine—it is India’s journey.”
He marveled at Earth’s magnificence—its invisible borders, its unified pulse. “India looks truly grand,” he said, “much bigger than on the map.” His eyes sparkled with awe as he described traveling at 28,000 km/h, balancing his feet against microgravity, and sleeping on ceilings.
But he didn’t come empty-handed. Shukla carried Indian delicacies—carrot halwa, moong dal halwa, and mango juice—for his ISS colleagues. He recounted their joy tasting them, calling it a celebration of “Indian culinary heritage”.
Experiments for Earth, Not Just Space
Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned the discussion towards science:
“Tell me about the experiments you are conducting aboard the ISS.”
Shukla detailed seven Indian-designed experiments, including stem cell research aimed at combating muscle loss in gravity-free environments—findings that could help India’s elderly. He also mentioned microalgae cultivation for sustainable nutrition—fitting themes with PM Modi’s focus on agriculture and public health.
Science and Spirituality Hand-in-Hand
Narendra Modi brought up India’s strengths:
“Science and spirituality both are our nation’s strength.”
Shukla agreed, noting that mindfulness helped him adapt to zero gravity—with calm enabling better decisions even at 400 km above Earth.
A Message to the Youth and Gaganyaan Aspirants
The Prime Minister shifted to vision:
“Your journey is the first chapter towards India’s very own space station and Moon landing mission.”
Shukla replied humbly:
“I am absorbing everything like a sponge… this mission is not mine alone, but of the country.”
He urged youth not to limit themselves: “The sky is never the limit—not for you, not for me, not for India.”
A Cinematic Climax Beyond the Screen
Picture it: the orbiting ISS, an Indian flag newly planted behind Shukla, and a nation watching with bated breath. Modi’s heartfelt message, Shukla’s grace under cosmic conditions, and the mission badge of Gaganyaan—the scene felt lifted from a movie, but it was real.
That line—furthest yet closest—echoed not just in conversation, but across schools, media outlets, and social timelines. It was India telling its future:
“Our dreams are big. Our reach is global.”
Why This Moment Matters
- National Pride & Space Ambition: The interaction reaffirmed India’s commitment to space exploration, human travel, and collaboration with global agencies.
- Personal Representation: Shukla became a symbol—of hope, progress, and Indian values in the cosmos.
- Political & Strategic Vision: Modi’s words reaffirmed the launchpad that Gaganyaan-4 and ISRO’s space station could well become.
- Emotional Connect: Sum total, an astronaut far above became the closest to Indian hearts—the perfect narrative for a nation on the move.
Official & Trusted News Sources
- MSN News
https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/India/furthest-from-motherland-but-closest-to-indian-hearts-pm-modi-interacts-with-shubhanshu-shukla-in-iss-watch-video/ar-AA1HAK5M - MSN News (Detail Report)
https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/India/what-did-pm-modi-and-shubhanshu-shukla-talk-about-from-16-sunrise-and-sunset-to-astronaut-strapping-his-feet-check/ar-AA1HB1zB - NDTV
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/furthest-from-motherland-closest-to-our-hearts-pm-narendra-modi-to-indian-on-space-mission-4581867 - India Today
https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/pm-modi-hails-indian-astronaut-on-axiom-mission-4-during-video-call-2492445-2024-07-05 - Axiom Space (Official)
https://www.axiomspace.com/news/axiom-mission-4-updates
Source:
- msn – “What Did PM Modi And Shubhanshu Shukla Talk About? From 16 Sunrise And Sunset To Astronaut Strapping His Feet – CHECK”
- msn | The times of India – “‘Furthest from motherland but closest to Indian hearts’: PM Modi interacts with Shubhanshu Shukla in ISS – watch video”
- msn | Hindustan Times – “‘Sky is never the limit, not for me, you, or India’: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla tells PM Modi”
- telegraphindia – “‘Rookie’ foot in space station door: As Dragon docks, Shubhanshu Shukla is 634th spacefarer”
