With Tiranga on His Shoulder, Shubhanshu Shukla Sends First Message from Orbit

By Dipanjan Mondal

25 June, 2025:

Just moments after reaching Earth’s orbit aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft on Wednesday, June 25, Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla addressed the nation with a stirring message — one filled with pride, hope, and a call for unity.

"Namaskar, mere pyaare deshvasiyon! What a ride! 41 saal baad, hum phir se antariksh mein pahuch gaye hain. Kamal ki ride thi! Is samay hum 750 km per hour ki raftaar se prithvi ke charo taraf ghum rahe hain. Yeh Bharat ke human space program ki shuruaat hai. Mere kandhe pe Tiranga hai, jo mujhe batata hai ki main akela nahi hoon, mai aap sab ke saath hoon. Yeh meri ISS tak ki journey ki shuruat nahi, yeh Bharat ke human space program ki shuruaat hai. Mai chahata hu ki aap sabhi deshvasi is yatra ka hissa bane. Aaiye, milkar Bharat ki manav space yatra ki shuruaat karte hain. Dhanyawaad, Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!" he said with emotion, from orbit.

His words not only echoed the thrill of the journey but also the deeper mission behind it. “We are back in space once again after 41 years… This journey of mine is not a beginning to the ISS but to India’s Human Space Programme,” he said, reminding the nation of the symbolic and scientific leap being made.

With the tricolour on his shoulder and the nation in his heart, Shukla became only the second Indian to travel to space — following in the footsteps of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew in 1984. This moment, after four decades, wasn’t just a technical feat but a shared national dream rekindled

Urging citizens to be a part of this historic voyage, he said, “I want all of you to be part of this journey… Together, let’s initiate India’s Human Space Programme.”

And with those words — “Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!” — Shubhanshu Shukla carried a billion hopes into orbit