Space travel, once a fantasy in the 19th and early 20th century is now no longer such a novelty. It is no longer just travel but also covers stay and conduct of experiments in Space Stations, where Gp Capt Shubhanshu Shukla, a qualified test pilot with over 2000 hours of flying experience too spent some time and where Sunita Williams, a veteran of three space missions, got stuck and stayed on for full nine months. While Sunita Williams is a veteran US Naval officer of Indian origin, there is another Indian American, who we are extremely proud of, Kalpana Chawla, born in Karnal, she dreamt big and made those dreams come true by becoming the first woman Astronaut of Indian origin to travel in the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997. She unfortunately died in the 2003 last flight of Columbia itself during the reentry into Earth’s atmosphere in 2003.
We have a small anecdote of our own with India’s first cosmonaut himself. Meeting with Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma has been a part of the highlights of my memories of NDA when both he and Wg Cdr Ravish Malhotra called on their Alma Mater in 1984. We were overawed by the occasion and considered ourselves lucky to have seen them. Circa 2010, I was in Wellington in the Unit CSD Canteen purchasing the regular monthly grocery and guess who do I bump into, Rakesh Sharma himself, doing exactly the same thing with not a soul even recognising him. I immediately walked upto him, introduced myself and my better half and reminded of our brief interaction from the NDA and that he was from my Squadron Juliet too. I asked him if I could get my kids to meet him, he magnanimously invited us for a cup of tea and my kids Abhijat and Ananya too got to shake hands with this legend and get themselves clicked with him. There were no smart phones then, so selfies were still unheard of and yours truly had the privilege of capturing this moment. He has settled down in Coonoor post his premature retirement. His humility and spontaneity left us totally floored, here was such a celebrity who had no airs whatsoever hosting us.
Now of course Shux is back, welcome home India’s first astronaut, yes you read that right, the first cosmonaut was Sqn Ldr (later Gp Capt) Rakesh Sharma,AC. We know that the world is divided by boundaries of states but we humans have not spared even the celestial space and gone ahead to carve that out also. The Russians were pioneers in the space as most of us recall Yuri Gagrin being the first man and Valentina Tarashkova the first woman in Space, they coined the term ‘cosmonaut’, from ‘cosmos’ and ‘naut’ depicting the sailor. I think the term could have become one which could have been adopted by all, as it is for soldiers. But unfortunately this maiden space trip triggered a race between the US and erstwhile USSR, which eventually culminated in Jul 1969 when Neil Armstrong became the first man to step on the moon. The Americans to be different from the evil Commies called their space travellers as ‘Astronauts’. When it was the turn of European nations to hitch hike with the Americans they called them spationaut and the Chinese not to be left out named them “taikonauts”. So far Indians are still taking lift with either the Russians or renting a paid flight, (I believe it was Rs 548 Cr) with the Americans but soon we shall have our own “Gaganyatri” or “Vyomonaut” as Gagan and Vyom both mean the ‘sky’ in Sanskrit and Yatri is a ‘traveller’. Amidst all this trouble over finding suitable names for them, I was reminded of the artificial language boundaries within our country also the Marathi-Hindi or Tamil-Hindi conundrum. Hey, some of us old timers may recall the Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong song from the movie “Shall We Dance” “You say tomato, I say tomaato, you say potato, I say potaaato, let’s call the whole thing off..!” Truly let’s call the whole thing off!!
23 thoughts on “Boundaries in Space”
Truly lovely memories. I too had the opportunity of engaging with the Rakesh Sharma somewhere around 2009-10, while on a TD Bangalore
And a Malayalee who goes to space is a Cocon(a)ut
Dear Sir,
Your article on boundaries in space -Sense in the Non Sense is a delightful blend of nostalgia, patriotism, and wit. Your anecdotes about meeting Rakesh Sharma and his humility are truly inspiring. Your writing style is engaging, and your observations on the terminology for space travelers are thought-provoking.
Your piece is a testament to your storytelling ability and your passion for space exploration. You’ve managed to weave together personal experiences, historical facts, and linguistic observations seamlessly. Your reference to the “tomato/tomaato” song adds a touch of humor to the article.
Overall, your writing is a pleasure to read, and your love for the subject shines through. You’ve done a great job of sharing your experiences and insights with the reader.
Well articulated. Keep up the good work Suyash. I remember Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma had said “Saare jahan se achha, Hindostan hamara.. ” from space, when quizzed as to how does India look from space
A Comprehensive Writeup on Indian Origin Space Travellers. Those from our Alma Mater metaphorically reached ” Seventh Heaven” with this unique opportunity bestowed on them by Destiny.
I’m the Space, in which I travel.
I’m the Rocket, that propels ME
I m here there every where.
Good to c the kids.
Once again well scripted sir….
A trivia…. Kalpana Chawla’s father Mr. Chawla was owner of Super Tyre Industries at Karnal where my uncle happened to be the manager / labour welfare officer. After Mr Chawla’s death, his son took over the factory but could not manage it well and the same had to be closed down in a couple of years.
Another trivia….. When Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma was posted at Air Force station, Ambala, during one of the sorties, he met with an accident and ejected out of his aircraft. He suffered certain injuries as he had fallen on to a building and was admitted in the hospital. His daughter happened to be my cousin’s class fellow at KV Ambala Cantt. So my cousin and her class fellows went and met Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma in the hospital.
Great work sir
👍
Great memories and greater associations
Dear Suyash, Very nice write up. Looking forward for more of such memoirs 👍
Naming space travellers isn’t frivolous as it reflects each nation’s relationship with science, identity, and power. India’s choice of Gaganyatri is about sovereignty, culture, and self-definition in providing meaning and purpose to the final frontier. Suyash..Rating 10/10.
Beautifully blended shared memories with the need & style of naming pioneers! VYOMESAARTHEE GAGANYATREE NABHCHAR ULKADRISHTA…….
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Very aptly put..name and language barriers..pavement and side walk…spectacles and eyeglasses…endless list.
Let’s rejoice and Suyesh you are masterfully use pen
Wonderful memoir Suyash!
Beautiful sir..As always 👌🙏
I remember how Rakesh had to travel by Bus from Ambala to Delhi on a regular basis as some dignitaries wanted to meet him. The system did not give him his due. Well written Suyash.
Very well articulated sir
A very sweetly penned down memory and easily relatable in the multi-furcated world. Gaganyatri most aptly wins the competition with Vyomnaut….
Thank you for sharing this sir
A wonderful article Suyash ! While at IMA, Wg Cdr Rakesh Sharma had delivered a talk at Khetarpal Auditorium, to which I had listened to very intently, lapping each and every word spoken by him.
I remember asking him in the Q & A session that “why do the Russian Astranauts land on land and the Americans on sea, after their respective space odysseys”.
We are proud of our dear “Shux” ! Am sure he has motivated an entire generation to follow his footprints set in the sands of time.
Yes Sir while Rakesh Sir was a legend and rightly so, but where is the back up Wg Cdr Ravish Malhotra? The poor fellow who endured everything in equal measure but finally didn’t make the cut. Feel sad for him. Hopefully this time around all these boys should get a crack at it in due course.
Well written Suyash, ending with a subtle message. All I can say is that the true language is the language of the heart…and all of us know how to speak it……
Absolutely Sir unfortunately people get cowed down by what Tagore described as the narrow domestic walls and get stuck there itself. May we as a species rediscover Vasudhaiv kutumbkam