Did You Do The Homework I Gave? – PM Modi Shares Light-Hearted Banter With Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Indian Air Force (IAF) Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who recently scripted history by becoming the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station (ISS).

The meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi, was marked by warm exchanges, reflections on India’s space ambitions, and even a humorous moment about ‘homework’.

Shukla briefed the Prime Minister about his 18-day Ax-4 mission, conducted with international partners, which concluded on July 15. He shared images captured from space and detailed several experiments, including studies on tardigrades, myogenesis, microalgae, cyanobacteria, and seed sprouting of methi and moong.

These findings, he stressed, are invaluable for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission, the country’s first human spaceflight programme.

The astronaut revealed that his international crewmates are keenly anticipating Gaganyaan’s success, underscoring the global interest in India’s growing role in space exploration.

During the interaction, Prime Minister Modi asked Shukla with a smile, “Did you do your homework? The one I gave you?”

The astronaut responded lightheartedly, admitting that his colleagues often teased him about it, saying, “Your Prime Minister gives you homework!” He added that he had faithfully recorded every detail of his mission to aid India’s future space programmes.

This playful exchange highlighted the rapport between the Prime Minister and India’s first astronaut on the ISS while also underlining the seriousness of documenting lessons for national space endeavours.

Challenges in Space & on Earth

PM Modi enquired about Shukla’s physical adaptation after returning from space. The astronaut candidly replied that his body initially struggled to readjust, saying, “The brain takes time to understand that we have to walk. When I came back, I was not able to walk, and people had to hold me up.”

He revealed that he experienced similar disorientation upon arriving at the ISS.

Reflecting on his experiences, Shukla remarked, “Wherever I went, everyone was excited to meet me and curious about India’s achievements. The most striking part was that many already knew in detail about the Gaganyaan mission.”

Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “Had a great interaction with Shubhanshu Shukla. We discussed a wide range of subjects including his experiences in space, progress in science & technology as well as India’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission. India is proud of his feat.”

Shukla returned to India on August 17 after undergoing rehabilitation in the United States. His mission has been widely hailed as a breakthrough moment for India’s human spaceflight ambitions and a precursor to more ambitious space exploration efforts in the future.

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