A film star & our star-trekkers

From Mother Earth, she asked, "How does India appear from up there?" From the heavens, he replied, "Saare jahan se achha."

- R. PRASANNAN

Several million Indian hearts went into seventh heaven watching the chat between prime minister Indira Gandhi and Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma who was orbiting the earth in a Russian space vehicle in 1984. For all you know, the dialogue had been scripted beforehand. No harm. It was played to perfection, and India had its moment of pride.

Narendra Modi's Gaganyaan moment at Thiruvananthapuram last month too was played to the script. The four pilots, training to fly into zero gravity zones, took in the gravity of the moment. As they stood in smart attention, Modi presented them with astronaut wings, and later introduced them as India's four shakti. A billion and more hearts flew to seventh heaven.

Ceremonies of the state are scripted to perfection. The names of the foursome-Group Captains Prashanth Nair, Ajit Krishnan, Angad Pratap and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla-had been kept under wraps for full four years when they were training in Russia and India. That added to the moment's solemn suspense.