Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, first Indian cosmonaut to go into space (aboard Soyuz T-11), when asked by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi how India looked from space (April 3, 1984). In 1982, Rakesh Sharma was selected for the mission which was jointly undertaken by Isro and the Soviet Intercosmos Space Programme.
On April 2, 1984, India launched its first space mission and Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian in Space. Sharma had a brief conversation with the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and when Indira Gandhi asked Sharma how did India look from the Space, Sharma said, “Saare jahan se achcha”. On the 36th anniversary of this major feat, the Congress shared the video on its Twitter handle as a throwback.
Soviet rocket Soyuz T-11 was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic. Sharma had spent 7 days 21 hours and 40 minutes on the Salyut 7 orbital station. While he joined as a test pilot, his efforts and consistency over the years rose him to the post of Squadron Leader in 1984. He also became the IAF pilot to be selected for the joint manned space programme of the IAF and Soviet Union’s Interkosmos.
After returning from space, Sharma along with Malyshev and Strekalov, was awarded with the “Hero of the Soviet Union” title. To this date, he is the only Indian pilot to be conferred upon with the honour by Russia or the erstwhile USSR.
Credit : Sify.com
Picture Credit : Google
