Proud Moments

Shubhanshu Shukla, Group Captain, has been selected for an impending Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS). He is one of two ‘gaganyatris’ scheduled to train at NASA’s Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, this month. Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, who will serve as a backup if Shukla withdraws from the mission for any reason, will accompany him. Both are part of Axiom Space’s private Axiom-4, or Ax-4, mission, which will launch on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre no earlier than October 2024. Shukla was born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. He was recently upgraded. On June 17, 2006, he graduated from the National Defence Academy and received his commission into the Indian Air Force’s fighter stream. Shukla is a fighter combat leader and test pilot with around 2,000 hours of flying experience. Shukla has flown several aircraft, including the Sukhoi-30MKI, Mig-21, Mig-29, An-32, Dornier, Hawk, and Jaguar. Shukla reportedly entered the armed forces after being inspired by stories of gallantry from the Kargil war.

A space age

Only three private Indian firms, including Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space, have successfully launched a satellite or launcher into orbit (along with Pixxel and Skyroot). Founded by Sanjay Srikanth Nekkanti, Dhruva Space established its capability as a satellite contract maker by launching two technology demonstrator satellites. After a total of 15,000 orbits, the Thybolt-1 and Thybolt-2 satellites deorbited. The mission was launched in 2022 aboard ISRO’s PSLV-C54. Other key members are: Abhay Egoor (CTO) Krishna Teja Penamakuru (COO) and Chaitanya Dora Surapureddy (CFO). The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Center (IN-SPACe) authorisation empowers Dhruva Space to offer critical ground support, enabling real-time satellite communication and control. This commercial capability ensures reliable data transmission, enhances mission flexibility, and reduces operational costs.

Competing at the Paris Olympics

Indian players in the Paris Olympics 2024 have showcased determination while proudly representing India in hockey, shooting, javelin, and wrestling. Starting with shooting, Manu Bhaker won two bronze medals in the Olympics campaign this time. One was in the team with Sarabjot Singh. Neeraj Chopra, won silver in the javelin throw. The national men’s hockey team defeated Spain to win bronze. In wrestling, Aman Sehrawat won a bronze.

Scripting history

Seventeen years later, Rohit Sharma scripted the record of being the oldest captain to win the T20 World Cup in the recently finished edition after being the youngest member of the team at the 2007 T20 World Cup. While Virat Kohli leaves with the honour of being Player of the Match in the T20 World Cup final, a record 16th time in T20Is, Rohit joins the ranks of eight West Islanders who have twice won the men’s T20 World Cup. They include Samuel Badree, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Chris Gayle, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Dared Sammy, and Marlon Samuels.

Netflix Documentary ‘Modern Masters: SS Rajamouli’ honours the brilliant creator behind ‘Baahubali’ and Academy Award-winning ‘RRR’. S.S. Rajamouli has redefined Indian cinema with his grand storytelling and groundbreaking visual effects, mastering multiple crafts along the way. In a career spanning more than two decades, Rajamouli has given life to several blockbuster films, with an unbelievable 100% success ratio. Last year, 'RRR' made news by receiving an Oscar nomination, marking a big milestone in Indian cinema. Fast forward to the present day, and the film continues to leave an unforgettable impression on the global stage. His exceptional work has received international acclaim, including the prestigious Academy Awards.

Filmmaker Nag Ashwin Reddy has instilled immense pride in India through his revolutionary works, including Kalki 2898 AD, akin to India’s interpretation of superhero films from Hollywood studios such as Marvel and DC. We have story- lines that rival any Marvel or DC film in terms of depth, complexity, and heroism. Critics have drawn comparisons between the film’s imagery and those of recent Hollywood dystopian blockbusters like Dune and the Mad Max series. With “relief and gratitude,” the team that worked on the film for so long finally celebrates its worldwide box office success.