Panaji: Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on Friday said India has set bold goals for itself — from becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047 to undertaking ambitious space missions such as landing on the Moon — and stressed that it is the collective responsibility of citizens to realise these aspirations.
Interacting with students during the ongoing Goa Book Festival 2026 in Panaji, organised by the National Book Trust, Capt Shukla narrated several anecdotes about his space mission and the preparations leading up to it.
“India has set very bold dreams, be it Viksit Bharat by 2047 or space missions, but how can we achieve them? We all have to make it possible,” he said, adding that everyone must assume that responsibility.
Shukla said India is already working on the Gaganyaan mission and is planning to establish its own space station, followed by a mission to the Moon.
Referring to the students, the captain said he wants to see one of them — whether a boy or a girl — become the first Indian to set foot on the Moon.
“The sky was never the limit, not for me, not for you, not for Bharat,” he said.
During the interaction, Capt Shukla showed videos shot during the Axiom 4 mission inside the capsule, along with views of the Earth from space.
“I am often asked how India looks from space. This question was also asked to India’s first astronaut Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who aptly replied Sare Jahan Se Accha. I have no better words to describe our country,” he said.
Responding to questions about the pressure ahead of a mission, Capt Shukla said there is always pressure.
“There is a lot of pressure. You think about what may happen during the mission. But you also realise that you are not representing just yourself or the flag; you are representing 1.4 billion people and going to space on their behalf,” he said.
He added that in such situations, he always reminds himself that it is not the time to be afraid but the time to perform.
“Now, if you let yourself down, there is no use in choosing you,” he said.
Sharing his experience ahead of launch, Capt Shukla said the rocket can be seen from nearly two-and-a-half kilometres away, fully illuminated.
“You are given an opportunity to play a song to motivate yourself. I played Vande Mataram from the movie Fighter at full volume and was ready for the mission,” he said.
