Prime Minister Praises ISRO’s “Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan,” Sets August 23 as a Milestone in India’s Space Endeavors
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulates ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 team in Bengaluru, announces ‘National Space Day.’ Catch the full story.
BENGALURU – Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru, where he met and congratulated the scientists behind the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s success. The Prime Minister’s visit comes after his return from a tour comprising South Africa and Greece.
ISRO Chairman S Somanath briefed PM Modi on the mission’s journey, detailing the steps that led to the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3’s Lander Module (LM) on the Moon’s surface. The PM, upon his arrival at the HAL airport in Bengaluru, raised the slogan “Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan” and greeted the people of the city.
National Space Day: A Tribute to Chandrayaan-3
During his visit, PM Modi announced August 23 as ‘National Space Day,’ an annual observance to commemorate the successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
“My heart was with you all,” the Prime Minister told the ISRO scientists, acknowledging that although he was abroad due to a global conference, his focus remained in India and with the project.
Unveiling ‘Shivshakti’ and ‘Tiranga’
PM Modi emotionally addressed the scientists and the nation, revealing that the location where Chandrayaan-3’s moon lander touched down would be named ‘Shivshakti.’ Additionally, the PM mentioned that the spot where the previous Chandrayaan-2 mission had left its mark would be named ‘Tiranga.’
Political Undertones in PM’s Visit
The Prime Minister’s arrival in Bengaluru did not go without a slight political stir. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was reportedly barred from receiving the Prime Minister at the airport. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused PM Modi of not following protocol, hinting at friction between central and state leadership.
Global Recognition
India’s success in landing Chandrayaan-3’s Lander Module (LM) on the moon has positioned the country as the fourth globally to accomplish such a feat. The achievement came just days after PM Modi virtually witnessed the mission’s success from Johannesburg, where he was attending the BRICS summit.