'Need More Shubhanshus': IAF Chief's Inspiring Message to India's Youth

Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh on Thursday praised Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla for inspiring a new generation of Indians and expressed hope that the country would soon see "more and more Shubhanshus" achieving milestones in space.

Speaking at the launch of Shukla's memoir, 'The Second Orbit' , the Air Chief said India's greatest achievement would be the day space missions become so common that one astronaut's success is no longer viewed as an extraordinary event.

"I just hope that we have more and more Shubhanshus coming out," he said with a touch of humour, adding that he wished a day would come when people would hardly recognise Shukla because many more Indians would have followed his path into space.

Even if several astronauts eventually shared the spotlight, Singh noted that Shubhanshu Shukla would always be remembered as the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS) after a gap of more than four decades.

Shukla scripted history in June 2025 by becoming the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS as part of the Axiom-4 mission . His journey came 41 years after Rakesh Sharma's iconic 1984 spaceflight aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft, marking a significant milestone in India's human spaceflight journey.

Reflecting on Shukla's early life, the Air Chief said the Lucknow born astronaut had grown up as a shy and reserved child who was inspired by stories of Rakesh Sharma's historic mission. That childhood inspiration, he said, eventually turned into a remarkable achievement that now motivates countless young Indians.

Singh also highlighted that Shukla was one among four Indian Air Force officers selected and trained for India's ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. While Shukla was chosen for the Axiom mission, the Air Chief stressed that the difference between the four officers was extremely small.

"All four were selected. All four were good. All four are good," he said, expressing hope that each of them would get the opportunity to undertake a space mission in the near future.

He emphasised that success should not be measured solely by the final achievement but by the dedication and perseverance displayed throughout the journey.

"It is not important what you achieve or where you land up. It is the journey that is important. You enjoy the journey, you have aims, you must be ambitious, you must look up," Singh told the gathering, which included several young attendees.

The Air Chief also voiced concern over India's education system, saying it places excessive importance on examination marks and scores. He argued that this mindset needs to change so that young people are encouraged to pursue ambition, learning and personal growth rather than focusing only on academic rankings.

His remarks served as both a tribute to Shubhanshu Shukla's historic achievement and a broader message encouraging India's youth to dream beyond conventional boundaries, with the hope that many more astronauts will soon carry the nation's aspirations into space.