Mangalyaan: India's Mars Orbiter Mission

“Jab kaam mangal hota hai, iraade mangal hote hai, toh mangal ki yatra bhi mangal hoti hai”

These were some of the words from our very own Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who delivered a lovely speech at the ISRO facility in Bengaluru, after India created history by becoming the first Asian country to have successfully launched a spacecraft into the Martian orbit and the only one to be successful in its first attempt. Indeed, it was a moment of pride for every Indian to have witnessed such a historical feat, where only the Americans and the Russians excelled earlier. I don’t know, up to which extent humans would be able to solve the mystery about life beyond earth, but at least I would be proud that India did contribute to this curious mystery in a historic manner. I would like to thank all the scientists, who were involved in this mission and who worked day in and day out to make this mission, a successful one. Indeed, they are the real heroes. But this Mars mission should be remembered for a few other facts as well. Here are they:  

Such was the management of funds by the scientists that the entire mission cost only around $71 million. This sum is only a few more than one-tenth the amount spent by the Americans on their mission, which was reportedly around $671 million. This is one of the things which must be lauded for, because the Indian economy has been witnessing some harsh times recently and such efficient use of money and resources must be appreciated for quite some time to come. Even the budget of many Hollywood movies, like Gravity and Avatar was more than the Mangalyaan mission budget, which is even more impressive.

India has always been considered a country which wasn’t able to compete with the Western countries in the field of science and technology. These fields are often dominated by technology super-houses like USA, Russia, Germany, Japan, China etc. So, having successfully sent a spacecraft into the Mars orbit even before the likes of China or Japan is a great leap forward in this field. Personally, I never liked the Chinese or the Japanese, so India beating them in the technological front really excited me.

For long, the Western countries have always considered India a real backward place to live in. If you still have doubts, then the portrayal of India in films like Slumdog Millionaire and Life of Pi will show the actual Western perception of our country. Perhaps, India is still viewed to be the land of Kings and Maharajas, sitting on elephants and horses, without any modern technology and Indians to be only snake charmers and farm workers. Now, with a successful Mars mission to our name, India now sits equally with the USA and Russia in this elite list. Indeed, an achievement of pride. Plus, the timing of this feat came in a very corrective time, considering Modi's visit to the USA, and for obvious reasons.

My post would be so much incomplete if I don’t specially mention Mr. Narendra Modi’s speech on this historical event. He did visit the ISRO facility moments after the completion of the mission and met the scientists, who were responsible for this historical achievement. Mr. Modi is such a delight to listen to, with his mixed use of Hindi and English. Such is his use of words that he makes every speech of his, an amazing and wonderful experience to the ears. His motivational words are enough to make a historical event a memorable one. He should actually deliver a speech in every such occasion. Hail Narendra Modi. Hail ISRO. Hail India, too.