Moon landing is bugle for developed India, says PM Modi

New Delhi: The success of the lunar mission has sounded the bugle for the emergence of a developed nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday as Chandrayaan-3 landed successfully on the lunar surface. He called this achievement "the new flight of new India" and a "new history."

“We are witness to the new flight of new India. A new history has been written,” Modi said while addressing Isro scientists virtually from Johannesburg, and described the Chandrayaan-3 landing on the moon as the “first light of 'Amrit Kaal' and the 'Amrit Varsha' of success”.

“This is a moment to cherish forever,” Modi said, noting that India has reached the South Pole of the moon where no country has ventured so far.

He underlined that India's lunar success is a success for all of humanity and aligns with India's "One Earth, One Family, One Future" approach. India's achievement makes it the fourth country, after the US, China, and the Soviet Union, to master the technology of soft-landing on the lunar surface.

Modi highlighted India's determination to push boundaries, including upcoming missions to the sun (Aditya-L1) and planet Venus. He expressed pride in India's capability, referencing the nation's 140 crore people and their confidence in new energy.

Modi reflected on how this moment marks the transformation of defeat into victory, alluding to the partial success of the Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019. He reiterated that this historic moment heralds a developed India.

Modi, attending the Brics Summit in South Africa, virtually joined the scientists at ISRO's Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Network (ISTRAC) and waved the tricolour. He envisioned a future where myths and stories about the moon would change and proverbs would take on new meanings for the younger generation.

Modi compared Earth to "Maa" (mother) and the Moon to "Mama" (uncle) in Indian folklore, highlighting how the perception of the moon would evolve. He expressed confidence that Chandrayaan's achievements would lead India's exploration beyond lunar orbits and into the infinite possibilities of the universe.

Isro's upcoming missions include Aditya L-1 for the Sun and exploration of Venus.