Chandrayaan-3 landing spot to be called Shiv Shakti Point, says PM
Bengaluru, Aug 26: Conforming to a christening tradition, Chandrayaan 3’s landing point on the Moon will be named “Shiv Shakti Point,” a convergence of welfare and strength, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday.
Modi flew down to Bengaluru this morning from the Greek capital of Athens to interact with ISRO scientists on the successful lunar mission and announced the decision to name the spot where the lander ‘Vikram’ touched down as “Shiv Shakti point.” Terming the success of Chandrayaan-3 mission as an ‘extraordinary moment’ in the history of India’s space programme, Modi, who turned emotional, said the place where the Chandrayaan-2 lander crash-landed on the Moon’s surface in 2019 would be known as “Tiranga Point”.
“There is a scientific tradition of naming the location of touch down. India has decided to name the lunar region where our Chandrayaan-3 landed. The place Vikram lander descendyed will be known as Shiv Shakti point.” “In Shiv, there is resolution for the welfare of humanity and Shakti gives us strength to fulfil those resolutions. This Shiv Shakti Point of the moon also gives a sense of connection with Himalaya to Kanyakumari”, the PM added.
He said the new generation should come forward to scientifically prove the astronomical formulae in the scriptures of India and to study them anew.
“It is also important for our heritage and for science. In a way, this is a double responsibility for the students of schools, colleges and universities today. The treasure of scientific knowledge that India has, has been buried, hidden during the long period of slavery. In this ‘Azadi ka Amrit Kaal’, we have to explore this treasure too, do research on it and also tell the world about it”, he said.
“I was impatient and eager to visit and salute you for your diligence, dedication, courage, devotion and passion”, Modi said in his address to team ISRO, his voice choking. “India is on the moon! We have our national pride placed on the moon.” Hailing the role of women scientists in the success of Chandrayaan-3, he said, “the country’s Nari Shakti played a big role” in it.
The Prime Minister stated that the point where Chandrayaan 2 left its imprints will now be called ‘Tiranga’.
This point, he said, will serve as an inspiration for every effort that India makes and remind us that failure is not the end. “Success is a guarantee where there is strong will power.” Declaring August 23 as the ‘National Space Day,’ Modi said it will celebrate the spirit of Science, Technology and Innovation, and inspire us for an eternity.
A large number of people, many of them waving national flags, accorded a grand welcome to the PM outside the HAL airport, where he landed straight from Greece, and at Jalahalli Cross, close to ISTRAC. He also held a road-show for a distance as people who lined up on either side of the roads cheered boisterously.
At ISTRAC, ISRO Chairman S Somanath briefed him about the Chandrayaan-3 mission and its progress.
In his address, Modi said in this period of 21st century, the country which takes the lead in science and technology, will move ahead. “Today, the name of Chandrayaan is resonating among children of India. Every child is seeing his or her future in the scientists”.
PM Modi requested ISRO to organise national hackathons on “Space Technology in Governance” in collaboration with various departments of center and state governments. “I am confident that this National Hackathon will make our governance more effective and provide modern solutions to the countrymen,” he said. (PTI)