When Saare jahan se achha echoed in space as Rakesh Sharma made history
The mission, conducted under the Soviet Union's Intercosmos programme, was as much a diplomatic milestone as a scientific one.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is preparing to launch Indian astronauts to space on an indigenous spacecraft. But the ambitions of Indian human spaceflight began decades ago.
On April 3, 1984, India etched its name into the annals of space history when Indian Air Force pilot Rakesh Sharma lifted off aboard the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz T-11 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, becoming the first Indian to travel into space.
The mission, conducted under the Soviet Union’s Intercosmos programme, was as much a diplomatic milestone as a scientific one.
At the height of the Cold War, India’s collaboration with the USSR enabled a developing nation to take a giant leap into human spaceflight, years before it had its own independent capability.
Sharma, then a wing commander and test pilot, was selected from a pool of elite Indian Air Force aviators. What followed was months of gruelling training at Star City near Moscow, learning Russian, adapting to zero gravity, mastering spacecraft systems, and enduring intense physical conditioning designed to simulate the stresses of launch and space travel.
A widely remembered anecdote from the mission came during a live conversation with then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. When asked how India looked from space, Sharma replied with a line that has since become iconic: “Saare Jahan Se Achha.”
The phrase, drawn from a patriotic poem, instantly resonated with millions back home and remains one of the most enduring moments in India’s space story.
During his nearly eight-day stay aboard the Salyut 7 space station, Sharma conducted a series of scientific and biomedical experiments. These included studies on how microgravity affects the human body, as well as remote sensing photography of India, data that would later aid in resource mapping.
But sending Sharma to space required more than just individual excellence. It demanded seamless coordination between Indian and Soviet space agencies, extensive mission planning, and the adaptation of Indian scientific objectives to fit within Soviet hardware constraints.
Even dietary preferences were considered, with specially prepared Indian food sent along to make the astronaut more comfortable in orbit.
Sharma’s journey marked a defining moment for India, inspiring generations of scientists and laying the emotional groundwork for future missions by the Indian Space Research Organisation.
More than four decades later, as India prepares for its own human spaceflight missions, the legacy of that April morning endures, a reminder of what determination, collaboration, and vision can achieve beyond Earth’s boundaries.
India launched the first astronaut to the International Space Station in 2025 when Gp Captain Shubhanshu Shukla launched aboard the Axiom-4 mission for an 18-day mission to the flying laboratory.
Shux, who considers Rakesh Sharma as his idol and mentor, has said that he received a lot of guidance from the first Indian astronaut to go to space.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is preparing to launch Indian astronauts to space on an indigenous spacecraft. But the ambitions of Indian human spaceflight began decades ago.
On April 3, 1984, India etched its name into the annals of space history when Indian Air Force pilot Rakesh Sharma lifted off aboard the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz T-11 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, becoming the first Indian to travel into space.
The mission, conducted under the Soviet Union’s Intercosmos programme, was as much a diplomatic milestone as a scientific one.
At the height of the Cold War, India’s collaboration with the USSR enabled a developing nation to take a giant leap into human spaceflight, years before it had its own independent capability.
Sharma, then a wing commander and test pilot, was selected from a pool of elite Indian Air Force aviators. What followed was months of gruelling training at Star City near Moscow, learning Russian, adapting to zero gravity, mastering spacecraft systems, and enduring intense physical conditioning designed to simulate the stresses of launch and space travel.
A widely remembered anecdote from the mission came during a live conversation with then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. When asked how India looked from space, Sharma replied with a line that has since become iconic: “Saare Jahan Se Achha.”
The phrase, drawn from a patriotic poem, instantly resonated with millions back home and remains one of the most enduring moments in India’s space story.
During his nearly eight-day stay aboard the Salyut 7 space station, Sharma conducted a series of scientific and biomedical experiments. These included studies on how microgravity affects the human body, as well as remote sensing photography of India, data that would later aid in resource mapping.
But sending Sharma to space required more than just individual excellence. It demanded seamless coordination between Indian and Soviet space agencies, extensive mission planning, and the adaptation of Indian scientific objectives to fit within Soviet hardware constraints.
Even dietary preferences were considered, with specially prepared Indian food sent along to make the astronaut more comfortable in orbit.
Sharma’s journey marked a defining moment for India, inspiring generations of scientists and laying the emotional groundwork for future missions by the Indian Space Research Organisation.
More than four decades later, as India prepares for its own human spaceflight missions, the legacy of that April morning endures, a reminder of what determination, collaboration, and vision can achieve beyond Earth’s boundaries.
India launched the first astronaut to the International Space Station in 2025 when Gp Captain Shubhanshu Shukla launched aboard the Axiom-4 mission for an 18-day mission to the flying laboratory.
Shux, who considers Rakesh Sharma as his idol and mentor, has said that he received a lot of guidance from the first Indian astronaut to go to space.
