India’s Trailblazing Astronaut: Inspiring the Next Generation of Stargazers 40 Years in the Making

As the International Space Station (ISS) glides over India this weekend, students will likely be filled with wonder. Among them is Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s first astronaut to visit the ISS. Excitement buzzing through the halls of Kalash High School in West Bengal reflects dreams and aspirations.

Fifteen-year-old Deborshi Halder imagines astronauts discovering intelligent life. “What if they find a way for us to live on other planets?” he asks. His friend Sabnam Sireen has a different perspective, worrying about the potential for space pollution if humans exploit new worlds.

Shukla, a test pilot and engineer with ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), is part of Axiom Mission 4. He joins Rakesh Sharma, who made history as the first Indian in space back in 1984.

Students at Kalash High School were recently inspired by a workshop on space science, organized by the non-profit Life-To and Beyond Foundation. This organization, founded in 2022 by science communicator Sibsankar Palit, aims to promote science literacy among young learners. Over the last three years, it has held more than 30 workshops, even reaching remote areas like Sukma in Chhattisgarh.

Palit emphasizes the need for interactive learning. “Textbooks aren’t enough; kids need engagement,” he says. Unfortunately, only about 53.6% of India’s secondary schools had integrated science labs by 2021. To work around this, Palit often uses simple materials for hands-on projects. In one recent workshop, students created paper models of spacecraft, igniting their curiosity about the universe.

Fardin Ahmed, a 14-year-old student, shares his newfound appreciation for the cosmos. “I learned about the solar system before, but now I realize we’re part of a huge galaxy,” he reflects.

Friends Imrana Rahaman and Labiba Naaz, both 15, are eager to spot the ISS. A few years ago, they learned to use a planetarium app introduced by a teacher, allowing them to explore the night sky from their parents’ phones.

Many students at Kalash come from small villages and may be the first in their families to pursue education. Palit encourages them by reminding them of India’s humble beginnings in space exploration. “Our first rocket launched from a small fishing village back in 1963,” he says.

The thrill of space exploration is not just a dream; it shapes their conversations and futures. While the hope is for astronauts to explore new worlds, young minds in India are taking steps today to understand the universe. The excitement is palpable, and who knows what incredible journeys await them?



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