“India Still Shines Brightest”: Astronaut’s Moving Farewell from ISS

From hundreds of miles above Earth, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla delivered a powerful and emotional farewell message, echoing a sentiment expressed decades earlier. During the Axiom-4 mission’s closing ceremony aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Shukla declared India “better than the whole world,” borrowing the iconic phrase “sare jahan se accha” previously used by Rakesh Sharma in 1984.

Shukla’s Tribute to India’s Aspiration and Confidence

Shukla’s message resonated with pride and patriotism, highlighting India’s growing ambition and confidence in the realm of space exploration. He expressed his gratitude to the various organizations that made the mission possible, including the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX. This heartfelt tribute underscored the collaborative nature of space exploration and India’s increasing role on the global stage.

A Historic Echo Across Decades

Shukla’s words evoke a powerful connection to Rakesh Sharma’s historic spaceflight 41 years prior. When asked by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi how India looked from space, Sharma replied with the patriotic phrase “sare jahan se accha,” or “better than the whole world.” Shukla’s echo of this sentiment creates a poignant link between two generations of Indian space explorers and reinforces India’s continued pursuit of excellence in space.