Hometown Lucknow gives ISS astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla a hero’s welcome

Shubhanshu Shukla returned to India on August 17 after completing his 18-day space journey and was visiting Lucknow for the first time since the milestone flight

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force, who recently scripted history as the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) during the Axiom-4 mission, received a hero’s welcome in his hometown Lucknow on Monday. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath marked the occasion by announcing a scholarship in Shukla’s name for students aiming to study space science and technology.

Shukla returned to India on August 17 after completing his 18-day space journey and was visiting Lucknow for the first time since the milestone flight. Before this, he had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on August 18 and participated in several outreach programs in the capital.

“It’s heartwarming to witness the enthusiasm here,” Shukla told PTI Videos upon arrival.

At Lucknow airport, he was received by his parents, Shambhu and Asha Shukla, his wife Kamna, and son Kiash, while a cheering crowd waving the tricolour shouted “Vande Mataram.” A marching band played alongside students from his alma mater, City Montessori School, who dressed as planets and celestial bodies to honour their alumnus.

From the airport, Shukla rode in an open-top vehicle during a roadshow, waving to people despite a light drizzle as residents showered him with applause. LED screens across the city broadcast clips of his space mission, while municipal authorities had freshly resurfaced roads and decorated neighbourhoods with patriotic hoardings in anticipation of his arrival.

Speaking at a civic felicitation, Shukla underlined how India’s growing achievements in space technology were gaining global recognition. “As the deputy chief minister said, the day isn’t far when the world will mention ISRO in the same breath as NASA. That is not a dream, but a reality in the making,” he said.

Reflecting on his homecoming, he joked: “Since morning, I must have clicked nearly 2,000 selfies. The famous saying ‘Muskuraiye, aap Lucknow mein hain’ truly came alive for me today.”

Adityanath, who honoured Shukla in the presence of ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, and state BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary, announced the scholarship initiative, saying it would encourage Uttar Pradesh’s youth to pursue careers in space research.

“Just four years ago, no university in the state offered a program in space technology. Today, over a dozen institutes, including AKTU and Madan Mohan Malaviya Technical University, have introduced such courses. This reflects our intent to make Uttar Pradesh a contributor to India’s space journey,” the CM noted.

He added that space technology had crucial applications in disaster management, climate change, and agriculture. “We cannot dismiss calamities as acts of nature. With satellites and early warning systems, we can save lives and protect livelihoods,” Adityanath said, also commending Shukla’s parents for supporting his ambitions.

Shukla highlighted that his mission involved 60 experiments, including seven designed by Indian scientists, which he described as a landmark for the country’s microgravity research. “The proudest moment was conducting experiments created by our own scientists. The real achievement lies not just in the data collected, but in the opportunities it has opened,” he said.

At City Montessori School, Shukla urged students to dream of joining India’s planned lunar mission in 2040. “I’ll be competing too!” he quipped, drawing laughter, before adding, “Work hard, and maybe one of you will set foot on the Moon.”

He also shared that children often asked him not what astronauts do, but how he became one. “The answer is perseverance—only perseverance,” he stressed, encouraging students to remain determined.

The emotional high point of the day came when Shukla hugged his mother on stage as his father stood by with moist eyes. “I did get a welcome in Delhi, but nothing compares to this. Thank you for making me feel at home,” he said.

Lucknow Mayor Sushma Kharkwal announced that a city park would be named after Shukla, while all digital and LED screens in the capital displayed his achievements and welcome messages throughout the day.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Kisan Manch demanded that Shukla be conferred the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award. Its president, Shekhar Dixit, wrote on X: “Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has made the country proud by becoming the first Indian to visit the ISS. He is a true ‘ratna’ for Bharat and deserves the Bharat Ratna honour.”

(With PTI inputs)