JOIN USPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged scientists to be bold and delve into the realm of unknown without the fear of failure but pursue the vision of nation building and making India world leader.
In a passionate talk, Modi congratulated the Isro scientists for the success of Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM). “Explore the unknown, take risks, be bold, you will find that you can do many incredible things, like the way you have now done.
Through your achievements, you have honoured our fore-fathers and inspired our future generations. And don’t worry about failures. If there is failure, I will be the first person to take responsibility,” he said.
Soon after the success of MOM was announced, Modi hugged Isro Chairman K Radhakrishnan.
He described as “historic” India’s “spectacular” success. The country has dared to explore the unknown and achieved the near impossible, he said. “Our scientists have achieved this in the first attempt. History has been created today. I congratulate all Isro scientists as well as all my fellow Indians on this historic occasion,” said the prime minister.
“The odds were stacked against us. Of the 51 missions attempted across the world so far, a mere 21 had succeeded. But we have prevailed. We have gone beyond boundaries of human enterprise and imagination,” he added.
Modi was also witty: “Today MOM has met Mangal (Mars). Today Mangal has got MOM. The time this mission was short named as MOM, I was sure that MOM won’t disappoint us.”
Stating that Isro scientists “have made it a habit to achieve the impossible”, the prime minister said these accomplishments will go down as landmarks in history.
India’s Mars orbiter, the prime minister noted, had been built indigenously, in a pan-Indian effort, stretching from Bangalore to Bhubhaneswar, and Faridabad to Rajkot. He noted that the spacecraft had been put together in a record time within a mere three years of studying its feasibility, which was a matter of pride for Indians.
“The success of India’s space programme is a shining symbol of what we are capable of as a nation. Let today’s success drive us with even greater vigour and conviction. Let’s set ourselves even more challenging goals – this too must become a foundation for challenging the next frontier.” he said.
Modi said Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s “vision had inspired us to reach for the moon”. “The success of Chandrayan mission in turn led to the MOM. Modern India must continue playing this leading role of ‘Jagat-guru Bharat’. Our efforts have historically focussed on ultimate objective of nation-building. Of translating space technology into space applications,” he asserted.