Shubhanshu Shukla Gets Hero’s Welcome in Lucknow

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS), returned to his hometown Lucknow on Monday to a jubilant reception, with crowds chanting “Vande Mataram” and waving tricolors. “It’s great to see this excitement here,” Shukla told PTI Videos at Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport, where his parents, Shambhu and Asha, wife Kamna, and son Kiash greeted him alongside enthusiastic supporters.

Shukla, nicknamed “Shux,” arrived from the U.S. on August 17 after his historic Axiom-4 mission, having met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on August 18. The city celebrated with a vibrant roadshow, Shukla standing in an open-top vehicle despite light drizzle, as students from his alma mater, City Montessori School (CMS), dressed as astronauts and celestial objects, added flair with drum and trumpet performances. CMS manager Geeta Gandhi Kingdon personally welcomed the celebrated alumnus.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak hailed Shukla’s achievement, stating, “He’s brought glory to Uttar Pradesh and India. Our government has supported him, and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will honor him today.” Shukla shared with Pathak how India’s beauty captivated him from orbit. The roadshow culminated in a grand event at CMS’s Gomti Nagar branch, with digital screens across Lucknow showcasing his mission highlights.

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Mayor Sushma Kharkwal announced plans to name a city park after Shukla, with details pending. Local preparations included a cleanliness drive in Triveni Nagar, where the Shukla family resides, and freshly laid roads adorned with patriotic hoardings. Posts on X, like from @UPGovt, praised Shukla as a “national hero,” amplifying the city’s pride. The 40-year-old IAF officer’s journey, from a 2006 NDA graduate to ISS astronaut, has inspired millions, cementing India’s space ambitions.

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