As Chandrayaan-3 successfully made its lunar landing, social media witnessed an influx of heartfelt wishes from global leaders. Notably, even Fawad Chaudhry, the former Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the Imran Khan government of previously adversarial Pakistan, extended congratulations to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for its remarkable achievement. Mr. Chaudhry remarked, “A great moment for ISRO as Chandrayaan-3 lands on the moon. I can see a lot of young scientists celebrating this moment with Mr. Somnath, Chairman of ISRO. Only the younger generation with dreams can change the world. Good luck.”
Josef Aschbacher, the Director General of the European Space Agency, lauded the lunar landing of Chandrayaan-3 as an “incredible” event. He commended the demonstration of new technologies and the accomplishment of India’s first soft landing on another celestial body, expressing his thorough impression.
Abdulla Shahid, the former Foreign Minister of the Maldives, ex-speaker of parliament, and President of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, expressed jubilation at India’s space success. He declared, “India creates history! As a South Asian nation and neighbor, we are proud of the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 near the moon’s south pole. This is a success for all humanity, opening new areas of exploration. Congratulations, India. Congratulations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” Similar messages of admiration poured in from various corners, eliciting pride among Indians.
However, a remote school in Malaikodi hamlet, Vellore district, celebrated this momentous occasion uniquely by inviting Dr. P. Veeramuthuvel, the Project Director of Chandrayaan-3, as the chief guest and resource person for a one-day workshop with the students. The event, blessed by Divine Narayani, was organized in Annalakshmi Mahal in Sripuram.
Approximately 500 students from classes VIII-XII and around 80 teachers were privileged to have Dr. P. Veeramuthuvel as a resource person for the educational and motivational workshop.
The event commenced with a prayer song by the students, and the traditional lamp was lit, imparting divinity to the occasion. S. Ramesh, the Chief Mentor of Sri Narayani Schools, introduced the distinguished guest, highlighting Dr. Veeramuthuvel’s noteworthy achievements in the field of space science. He traced Dr. Veeramuthuvel’s humble beginnings, progressing from a Government school in Villupuram to obtaining a Doctorate from IIT Madras, emphasizing his educational journey.
Dr. M. Suresh Babu, the Trustee and Director of the Golden Temple, an influential figure at Sri Narayani Schools, advised the students to make the most of the opportunity to interact with the esteemed scientist.
Dr. Veeramuthuvel shared insights into his early struggles, emphasizing that hard work, consistent effort, total involvement in one’s pursuits, and being an obedient subordinate were crucial factors in his ascent to a prominent position. He spoke about the challenges of handling a team of 500 individuals involved in Chandrayaan-3.
The scientist elucidated the reasons behind the Chandrayaan-2 setback and the precautions taken to avert similar crises in Chandrayaan-3. Notably, ISRO scientists created a moon ambiance simulation on Earth, repeatedly testing it in the lab with the atmosphere of the Moon replicated. These meticulous preparations culminated in the historic success of Chandrayaan-3. The most captivating part of the interaction was the tense 19 minutes during the smooth landing, and the guest addressed a range of intriguing questions posed by the curious students.
As a fitting conclusion to the engaging session, Dharaniraj, the vice principal of the school, delivered a vote of thanks.
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