Mamata Banerjee Sends Indira Gandhi, Rakesh Roshan To The Moon
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has made another factual error regarding India’s space exploration. She got trolled for saying, “When Indira Gandhi reached the Moon, she asked Rakesh Roshan how India looks from the Moon.”
During a rally, she claimed that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had gone to the moon and asked astronaut Rakesh Sharma how India looked from there.
However, it was actually Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma who had a conversation with Indira Gandhi while he was in space.
Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, an Indian Air Force pilot, became the first Indian to travel to space in April 1984 as part of the Soviet Intercosmos program. While onboard the spacecraft, Sharma had a conversation with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
When she asked him how India looked from space, Sharma famously replied, “Saare Jahan Se Achcha, Hindustan Hamara” which means “Our country is the most beautiful in the world.”
Banerjee’s confusion seems to stem from her previous mistake of mistaking astronaut Rakesh Sharma for filmmaker Rakesh Roshan.
She had claimed that Roshan had landed on the moon and had a conversation with Indira Gandhi.
However, it was actually Sharma who went to space, not Roshan, and it was not the moon but the Soviet Union’s Salyut 7 Orbital Station in low Earth orbit.
Banerjee’s latest gaffe occurred during a rally celebrating the foundation day anniversary of the Trinamool Congress’ student wing.
She congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the successful soft landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission on the lunar surface.
However, she once again referred to the conversation between Indira Gandhi and “Rakesh Roshan” about how India looked from the moon.
Banerjee’s factual errors have been widely shared on social media, with clips of her statements going viral. It is important to note that India’s recent achievement in successfully landing a rover on the lunar surface was a significant milestone for the country.
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Chandrayaan-3’s Lander Module touched down on the moon’s surface, making India the fourth country to accomplish this feat and the first to reach the uncharted South Pole of the moon.
It is the misfortune of this country to have such politicians who don’t have accurate knowledge and information about the significant achievements and historical events of their own country.
Despite that, they don’t hesitate to comment on the country’s developments or criticize another party’s government. They must be responsible and research better before commenting on anything.
