ASTRONAUT RAKESH SHARMA SHARED HIS EXPERIENCE WITH STUDENTS, MINISTERS,

BUREAUCRATS AND INTELLECTUALS THROUGH OKH

EARTH LOOKS ONE FAMILY FROM THE SPACE: SRI SHARMA.

Bhubaneswar, 26th Oct

‘Earth is one family and this is how it looks from the space’ said the distinguished WG and Astronaut Sri

Rakesh Sharma. Sri Sharma said this while addressing 6th lecture of Odisha Knowledge Hub (OKH) lecture

series delivered in conference hall of the State Secretariat today morning. Sri Sharma added, “Anyone who goes

to space looks at his own country first, but soon it appears that there is no boundary between the countries and

the entire world is one family and our destinies are integrated”.

Sri Sharma spoke on the topic ‘Manned Space Flight: A learning Experience’. Speaking about his

learning, Sri Sharma reiterated that environmental degradation of the earth caused by vehicular and industrial

pollution was clearly visible from the space. He said unless pollution issues are addressed appropriately, the

human race would extinct from the earth. He further added that the growing consumerism of a materialistic

culture would be the cause of the extinction of human race unless it is moderated by the wisdom of holistic

living with natural eco-system.

Replying to the query of a student, Sri Sharma said, in recent days green coverage in some parts of the

country like Odisha has increased but all the countries have to work together for maintenance of a balanced eco-

system. With regard to future of the space research, Sri Sharma said that all countries should collaborate together

in space research so that wastage of resources in ‘re-invention of the wheel’ is saved and the earth is saved from

the burdens of pollution.

Highlighting the outgoing maritime activities of Odias, which he termed ‘out of the cradle activities’ Sri

Sharma wished that the next space flight in search of another home planet for the man is launched from

Chandipur in Odisha.

Development Commissioner Sri. R. Balakrishnan introduced the esteemed scholar to the audience and

mentioned about contributions of Rakesh Sharma as a fighter pilot in Indian Air Force. Sri Balakrishnan said that

during Indo-Pak war of 1971 WG CDR Rakesh Sharma successfully launched 21 Operational Missions on a

Mig-21 aircraft even when he was less than 23 years old. Development Commissioner further added that Rakesh

Sharma was the astronaut in joint Indo-Soviet Space Mission-1984 which culminated in an 8 day near Earth

Orbit Space Flight. Sri Sharma was adorned with the awards like Ashok Chakra by Indian Govt and The hero of

Soviet Union as well as The Orders Lenin by Soviet Govt.

The highlight of the day was that the OKH lecture was extended to all the districts from where

Collectors, Senior Officers along with science students from various educational institutions participated in it.

Particularly, the students made several queries to the astronaut which Sri Sharma replied happily while

congratulating them for such intelligent questions. The students asked questions relating to what one eats during

space voyage, how to prepare for space flight, whether Allianz really exist, whether another home like earth for

man is really possible in the universe, whether space reasrch should be carried on at the cost of natural resources

that are burnt and used in production and launching of the space flights etc

The Hon’ble Minister Finance and Health & Family Welfare Sri Pradeep Amat presented a memento of

Odisha to Sri Rakesh Sharma on behalf of Sate Govt at end of the lecturer. Minister Food Supplies & Consumer

Welfare and Employment and Technical Education & Training Sri Sanjaya Das Burma, Minister Energy and

Information Technology Sri Pranab Prakash Das, Chairman of Odisha Skill Development Authority Sri Subrato

Bagchi, Chief Secretary Sri Aditya Prasad Padhi along other Ministers, MLAs and senior officers participated in

the lecture.

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** U.K.Mohapatra**

PRO to Chief Secretary