Potential for what India can accomplish under PM Modi knows no limits: US astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson

American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York on June 20 evening, said that he sees a very “bright future for India.”

Neil deGrasse Tyson, who is an author and science communicator, read out a quote from his book “Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier” when he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “For me the sky is not the limit,” Neil deGrasse Tyson said while showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi his book, to which the latter responded with a “wah!” and the two shared a laugh and posed for photographers.

Neil deGrasse Tyson later said, “I’m quite sure I’m not alone when I say the potential for what India can accomplish knows no limits,” he said following his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Prime Minister also took to his Twitter to post about his meeting with the American astrophysicist. “Talked space, science and related issues with @neiltyson. Highlighted steps India is taking to reform the space sector and draw more youngsters towards science as well as innovation,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

Neil deGrasse Tyson said that he was “delighted to spend time in the company of a head of state who is as scientifically thoughtful as is Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

Neil deGrasse Tyson and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held conversations about science and technology, and engineering and maths.

“So many leaders of the world that I think their priorities might be out of balance with what it needs to be going into the 21st century,” Tyson said.

“With all of the challenges we have in civilization, the solutions are going to come from innovations in science and technology and engineering and maths. And it’s very clear to me that he (PM Modi) cares about all of this,” the US astrophysicist said.

The science communicator also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi reserved his conversations about space for the next time but he was sure space matters quite a bit to the Indian prime minister.

“Obviously, he reserved his conversations about space for me, and I guess Elon (musk) was here a few minutes before I got here. But it’s clear that space matters quite a bit to the Prime Minister, so I was delighted to hear about future programs that he has in mind. I’m quite sure I’m not alone when I say the potential for what India can accomplish knows no limits,” Neil deGrasse Tyson said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on his first state visit to the US, has met with high-profile personalities, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, author Nicholas Nassim Taleb and investor Ray Dalio among others.

On the first day of his historic US state visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met a group of academics who are in leadership positions in the US to discuss improving collaboration between India and US universities. Agricultural scientist Professor Rattan Lal said he had discussions with PM Modi on how agriculture can be a solution to climate change. “It was an excellent meeting. He has made us very proud of being Indian…we hope that we will have an opportunity to serve India through the policy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has,” Prof Rattan Lal said. Apart from Prof Lal, the group that met Prime Minister Narendra Modi comprised Dr Neeli Bendapudi, Dr Pradeep Khosla, Dr Satish Tripathi, Ms Chandrika Tandon, Prof Jagmohan Raju, Dr Madhav V Rajan and Dr Anurag Mairal.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s day 1 in the US was marked with crucial meetings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Elon Musk stole the limelight as the Tesla CEO announced Tesla and Starlink’s plan to come to India. Elon Musk said he would be visiting the country next year, calling himself a’ fan of PM Modi’.

(with inputs from ANI)