Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the second Indian to travel to space, returned to his hometown Lucknow on Monday to a hero’s welcome and delivered an inspiring message to students at his alma mater, City Montessori School, Gomtinagar.
Addressing a felicitation ceremony, Shukla urged students to dream big and stay persistent in their pursuits. “We have a vision and mission to land on the Moon by 2040. Please aspire,” he said, stressing that perseverance is the key to success.
Sharing a personal moment, Shukla recalled how the excitement of the students who had lined up since early morning to greet him energized him despite his fatigue. “I saw you sweating, smiling, and so excited that my tiredness vanished,” he said, drawing cheers from the young audience.
Reflecting on his interactions during the Axiom-4 space mission, Shukla noted that children’s questions were rarely about the experience aboard the International Space Station, but rather about becoming astronauts themselves—something he said was a sign of India’s bright future.
Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak received Shukla at Lucknow airport, calling it a proud moment for the city and the country. “Today is a big day for Lucknow. Shubhanshu Shukla has not only made India proud but has also become an inspiration for the youth,” Pathak said.
Shukla’s arrival was celebrated with a grand roadshow, where students waved the tricolour and cheered enthusiastically. His family too was overjoyed, with his mother expressing her happiness at welcoming her son home after nearly one and a half years.
Shukla returned to Earth on July 15 after completing NASA’s Axiom-4 (AX-4) mission and landed in Delhi on August 17 before making his way to Lucknow.
