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The airport buzzed with celebrations, students dressed as astronauts, drums echoed, and flower petals rained as Shubhanshu Shukla returned home.
City Montessori School welcomed its alumnus, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (Credits: PTI)
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla returned to his hometown, Lucknow, on Monday, for the first time after he returned from the International Space Station (ISS) as a part of the Axiom-4 mission. Shukla also gave a speech to students at the felicitation ceremony organised at his alma mater, City Montessori School in Gomtinagar on Monday.
He began his speech on a heartfelt note, addressing the students with genuine warmth. “I was very tired this morning,” he said. “But then I saw you kids out on the roads, and I was told you’d been standing there since 7:30 AM. I saw you sweating, smiling, and full of excitement — and in that moment, all my tiredness disappeared.”
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Emphasising the importance of resilience, he added, “The only thing you truly need to succeed is perseverance.”
Reflecting on his interactions with students during his time aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Shukla shared an optimistic view of the future.
“In my experience, I believe the future is incredibly bright. We’re at the right time, with the right opportunities ahead of us,” he said. “During my conversations with you from the ISS, I was never asked what life was like up there. Instead, I was always asked how to become an astronaut. That speaks volumes about where your minds are focused — on ambition, not just curiosity.”
VIDEO | Lucknow: City Montessori School welcomed its alumnus, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. He says, “Before coming here, I had to catch an early morning flight. I woke up at 4. I had an engagement yesterday and could only sleep around 12. I was very tired sitting in the… pic.twitter.com/FSZPpN0PjV— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 25, 2025
Shukla further urged the student to “aspire.” He added, “We have a vision and a mission to land on the moon by 2040…”
Shubhanshu Shukla Receives Warm Welcome
On Monday, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak welcomed Shubhanshu Shukla upon his arrival. The airport buzzed with celebration — students dressed as astronauts, drums echoed, and flower petals rained down as Shukla returned to his hometown.
Among the crowd, an emotional reunion unfolded as his family, eyes brimming with tears of joy, embraced him warmly after his long absence.
Students stood in lines alongside the road to welcome the Space Hero, who was in Lucknow after one and a half years.
About the Author
Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her…Read More
Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her… Read More
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