Since the launch of ISRO’s moon mission, its been always in the headlines. During a recent alliance meeting, former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav made a remark which drew attention. Addressing the audience from a public platform, Lalu Yadav suggested, “ISRO in the next mission should send MODI to Sun.”
This remark was delivered with a sense of sarcasm and caught the interest of those in attendance. Lalu Yadav proceeded to critique the policies and governance of the BJP, touching on various issues such as the lack of opposition unity, rising inflation, and unfulfilled promises.
He humorously referenced the BJP’s infamous Rs. 15 lakh rupees promise, stating, “My children and we husband and wife together become Eleven. If you multiply it by Rs. 15, you will get a lot of money.”
He used the recent achievements of ISRO and Chandrayaan as a backdrop to suggest that Indian scientists should consider sending Modi to the Sun (Surya Lok) to gain worldwide fame. He also mentioned the actions of investigative agencies like ED and CBI, underscoring his determination to continue his political journey.
ISRO’s remarkable achievement
The Indian Space Research Organization has once again captured the world’s attention with its latest mission, Aditya-L1, to explore the Sun. Just as India was celebrating the success of Chandrayaan-3’s lunar mission, ISRO embarked on this ambitious journey. What’s truly astounding is that ISRO achieved this feat on a budget significantly lower than blockbuster film projects, such as ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer,’ and at roughly half the cost of the epic space film ‘Interstellar.’
Behind this monumental success are the humble heroes, scientists who remain grounded despite their extraordinary achievements. They did not receive special privileges or financial incentives for their dedicated work on this special space project. Instead, their motivation came from a simple yet heartwarming gesture – a free masala dosa and filter coffee at 5 pm every evening.
Former head of ISRO, Madhavan Nair, highlighted their exceptional dedication, stating, “We spend only on essentials. Our scientists put in more effort than any other scientists in any other company – in India or abroad.” Venkateshwara Sharma, a mission scientist, revealed that the offer of masala dosa and filter coffee played a pivotal role in boosting morale and keeping the team motivated.
The Washington Post’s opinion piece shed light on the unsung hero, Sreedhara Somanath, whose leadership led India to its historic moon landing. The author emphasized that India needs more role models like Somanath, who represents a generation of gifted scientists achieving remarkable feats in challenging circumstances without seeking fame or fortune. Scientists’ humility and dedication continue to earn them respect, with instances like the ISRO chief boarding an Indigo flight as an ordinary passenger, garnering admiration and praise from the public.
Amidst a wave of recent triumphs in the realm of space exploration, including the remarkable Chandrayaan 3 soft landing and the groundbreaking Aditya L1 launch, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is basking in widespread admiration and support from all corners of India. In a heartwarming gesture, a young child from the neighborhood added to the accolades by presenting ISRO Chief S. Somanath with a meticulously handcrafted model of the Vikram lander.
The touching moment was shared with the world by P.V. Venkitakrishnan, an ISRO scientist, who took to the social media platform X to express the sentiment. He wrote, “ISRO Chief Sri Somanath today had a surprise visitor. A young neighbor boy has handed over his own-made Vikram Lander model to the ISRO chief on behalf of all the neighbors.” Such heartwarming interactions serve as a testament to the admiration and support ISRO enjoys within the local community.
