Rakesh Sharma turns 77: Shubhanshu Shukla honours his mentor from space during historic Axiom-4 mission on birthday

January 13, 2026, was a day of joyful celebration and nationwide admiration to mark the 77th birthday of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to venture into space. Sharma’s iconic moment was his historic flight to space aboard the Soyuz T-11 in 1984. Even today, he remains a symbol of the country, represented by his ever-quotable utterance to then-Premier Indira Gandhi, which reads, “Saare jahan se achha.” To commemorate the day, there was a special heartfelt tribute by Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian astronaut who proudly planted his foot on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2025.Shubhanshu Shukla, as a part of the Axiom-4 mission with SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, remembered his mentor by posting a message on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), showcasing his appreciation for the effect Sharma has had on his life. The first picture depicts Shukla in the microgravity environment of the ISS, proudly displaying a photograph of Sharma in his historic spacesuit from the 1984 Mission. The Earth in all its glory stretches behind the two astronauts, who are docked in the surrounding spacecraft. The photograph signifies the journey from the historic flight by Sharma to the successful orbital mission accomplished by Shukla. The second photograph depicts the two astronauts in a gathering organized in celebration of their shared love for the cosmos.Shukla wrote: "3 April 1984 was the day India extended its neighborhood officially, thanks to Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who carried our country into space and showed us that our dreams had no limitation in the atmosphere."He affectionately called Sharma “Ricky sir.” He declared Sharma “a constant source of inspiration in my life, someone who has transformed themselves from being a ‘teachy’ hero in textbooks into being my guiding star.” He continued: “Thank you, sir, for being my mentor and for continuing to inspire the whole nation to reach for higher heights.” He said that in going to space himself, he took Sharma’s legacy along, including Sharma’s spacecraft in the photo at the ISS.Shukla’s mission aboard the ISS launched on June 25, 2025, marking India’s return to human spaceflight after 41 years since Sharma’s Soyuz flight. Serving as mission pilot, he spent 18 days conducting seven microgravity experiments for ISRO, before safely returning to Earth with a splashdown on July 15, 2025.This mission not only advanced India’s research capabilities in microgravity but also carried immense symbolic significance, connecting the nation’s first spaceflight with the ambitions of its modern generation of astronauts.Rakesh Sharma’slife spanned from January 13, 1949, in Patiala, Punjab, and is still remembered in the collective memory of India for the achievements he has fulfilled. His bravery and willingness to push ahead have encouraged generations of scientists and space travelers. The tribute of Shukla has been highly welcomed through social sites.Now that India is set to launch its domestic Gaganyaan mission, the emotional appeal reiterates the significance of Sharma being the torchbearer of the space ambitions of the nation and the fact that the zeal to explore continues with new generations like Shukla taking the tricolor to space," the source added.