Srinagar, July 20: Heavy rain failed to dampen the enthusiasm of thousands of visitors on the third day of the Chinar Book Festival at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), where over 2,200 students, teachers and families gathered to interact with Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, AC.
Welcomed with loud applause, Group Captain Shukla shared his inspiring journey from serving as an Indian Air Force pilot to becoming the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS). Speaking during an interactive session moderated by Amit Wanchoo, Chief Convenor of the festival, he described the achievement as "the journey of the entire nation."
Emphasising the value of discipline and perseverance, Shukla said five years of rigorous training prepared him for just 20 days in space. Using simple anecdotes and videos from his astronaut training, he explained complex scientific concepts in an engaging manner.
Recalling the spacecraft's liftoff, he admitted that he momentarily "forgot all his training," comparing the feeling to the anxiety students experience before an examination. He also shared amusing experiences from space, including growing taller in zero gravity, walking on the walls of the ISS, forgetting Earth's gravity after returning, and relearning how to walk.
Highlighting the power of perseverance, he narrated the story of his mission commander, Dr. Peggy Whitson, who overcame nine rejections before becoming one of the world's most accomplished astronauts.
Speaking about India's space ambitions, Shukla discussed the Gaganyaan mission, plans for an Indian space station and the country's goal of sending an Indian to the Moon by 2040. Encouraging students to dream big, he said, "The sky was never the limit—not for me, not for you."
The session concluded with an engaging question-and-answer interaction, where students enthusiastically asked about life aboard the ISS, astronaut training and India's future space missions.
The festival also hosted a discussion on "Trilingual Formula and Multilingual Education under NEP 2020", featuring former Jamia Hamdard Vice-Chancellor Prof. Afshar Alam, University of Kashmir Registrar Prof. Naseer Iqbal, and National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language Director Dr. Shams Equbal. The session was moderated by linguist Prof. Ijaz Muhammad Sheikh.
The day concluded with a grand Mushaira featuring renowned poets from across the country, alongside vibrant folk theatre performances and musical presentations, making the festival a lively celebration of science, literature and culture.
