Bharat is still “Sare Jahan se Accha” (best in the world) said the country’s very first cosmonaut who is celebrating the 40th anniversary of that historic flight. Closely connected to the country’s fresh effort to put four cosmonauts in space, Sharma, who is now 75 years old said he would love to take another flight but only as a tourist.
“There was too much work. I just want to put my nose on the window (this time) and enjoy sights of Mother Earth from space,” he told a scientific editor of an Indian news channel. Today, as India is preparing for its maiden human space flight as part of Mission Gaganyaan, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is also looking at the golden moment forty years ago.
Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma’s journey to space not only inspired Bharat but also symbolised the boundless potential of the human endeavour said S Somanath, the Chairman of ISRO who was just 21 years old at that time.
On this 40th anniversary of the historic space flight let us take a moment to honour his remarkable achievement and the indelible mark he left on the Indian space exploration, he added. History was made on April 3, 1984 when Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma lifted off Soviet rocket and became India’s first Gaganyatri, a term, the country has made official. He stayed on the Soviet Space Station for seven days and 21 hours.
His conversation with the then PM Indira Gandhi beamed into every home by Doordarshan had thrilled the nation. To her question Upar se Bharat kaise lagta hai? (How does Bharat look up from there) and he responded with the famous line penned by Alama Iqbal. Saare Jahan se Accha”. Sharma told an Indian media agency that the line was not rehearsed at all. He used to sing the legendary songs in school so it came naturally.
ISRO is now hoping to send one of the four astronaut designates into space from Sriharikota as part of its Mission Gaganyaan. The rocket would be Indian and as PM Modi said, this time the countdown will be ours today. Group Captain Ravish Malhotra who trained alongside Sharma and was a stand by cosmonaut never flew into space Now 81-year-old he went on to create one of the most vibrant aerospace companies the Dynamitic Technologies.
Speaking of him, Sharma said, “I had good fortune of being selected to go up in space. I wish to emphasise that the it was sheer good fortune because between the colleague Ravish sir and myself. I can lay claim to no special quality that was present only in me and not him.
Sharma now helps ISRO train the four astronauts designates for the Gaganyaan Mission. Rakesh Sharma had trained in yoga before his flight and performed it while near zero gravity condition. This practised earned him the moniker World’s First Antariksh Yogi. Purist will find the yoga I performed as naïve. But doing it in weightless condition is not easy and a quality harness is required to hold the Yogi in space.
Sources in ISRO said yoga is now part of the routine of the fabulous four as the Gaganyatri designates are often called. Somanath said Sharma has been the supporter, promoter and advisor for development of Gaganyaan. “He continues to support ISRO in many ways to develop the human space flight capability. He remains a pioneering Gaganyatri for India as the four candidates follow in his footsteps as part of Mission Gaganyaan,” he added. Sharma said he eagerly awaits the day when he will get the company of an Indian in that elite club of Universe Gazers.
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