Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian group to go to the International Space Station (ISS), interacting with school children in the amphitheater on Tuesday, the fourth day of the World Book Fair. Jagran.
Sanjeev Gupta, New Delhi. ...When the engines of the Falcon-9 rocket started, every bone in my body was trembling. It seemed as if despite all the preparation, you would forget everything as soon as the question paper came out. Along with physical problems like pressure on lungs and difficulty in breathing, the mental challenge of being away from family was also no less. The thrill of eight minutes and the distance of eight meters was challenging not only for me but also for my family.
When Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian group to go to the International Space Station (ISS), came to the World Book Fair on Tuesday, while interacting with the children from different schools in the amphitheater, he openly admitted his fear of traveling in space.
Group Captain Shubhanshu narrated the journey of becoming a pilot to the children.
In the session moderated by Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust (NBT), Shubhanshu took the children present on an inspiring journey from his early days as an Air Force pilot to becoming the first Indian to visit the space station. He said, “I went to space with a billion hearts.”
He said he had to train for five years to spend just 20 days in space. This shows how much hard work and dedication is required to do any work. He advised students to learn to enjoy not only the exciting moments but also the simple and everyday tasks.
He shared memorable moments of space travel while narrating some interesting stories along with the video. From using toothpaste, playing basketball with an astronaut in space instead of a ball, dropping his laptop after returning to Earth due to forgetting gravity and listening to the song “Vande Mataram” from the film Fighter while heading towards the launch pad, there were many memorable incidents which everyone was listening to with bated breath.
He told that the same preparation that had to be done for going on space travel, the same practice had to be done after returning to earth. Feeling the force of gravity again, even the weight of his eyelids, and practicing walking in a straight line again were skills he had to relearn.
Shubhanshu advised the students to make better use of mobile phones, read, learn and listen to podcasts and Dr. A.P.J. Recommended to read Abdul Kalam's book Wings of Fire. He also remembered India's first astronaut Rakesh Sharma. Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Defense Nikhil Khadse and former Law and Justice Minister Ashwini Kumar were prominent among those who visited the book fair on Tuesday.
Literary programs continued on the fourth day
A discussion session held in the theme pavilion celebrated the life and legacy of poet and lyricist Anand Bakshi. On this occasion, Yunus Khan, Dr. Shalini Agam and Sangeeta Bijit were present along with his son Rakesh Bakshi. Speakers recalled Anand Bakshi's visit and said that while returning from Rawalpindi after Partition, he had brought with him a photograph of his mother as his last memory.
She also shed light on his unique creative process and said that instead of taking inspiration from nature or books, Anand Bakshi would often compose songs based on emotions while sitting on the sofa or in a quiet corner of his living room.
The release of author Renu Saini's book 'Sweet Stories of Childhood and School' was held at the stall of Prabhat Prakashan. On this occasion, litterateurs Pankaj Chaturvedi and Suman Bajpayee were present along with Prabhat Kumar, director of Prabhat Prakashan, Piyush Kumar. Author Achal Priyadarshi's book 'Pakistan State Armed Influenconomy' was also released in Hall No. It happened at the stall of Prabhat Prakashan at five.
In Author's Corner, senior advocate Ashwini Kumar, in conversation with Shibani Sethi, discusses the enduring power and dignity of the Indian Constitution and highlights its role in protecting the rights and dignity of every citizen. A special performance by the Indian Army Band in the amphitheater attracted a large number of spectators.