NEW DELHI: Following NASA astronaut Sunita Williams’ safe return to Earth after a nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), her sister-in-law, Falguni Pandya, shared insights into Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s profound understanding of aerospace technology.
Williams and her crew, including Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, returned aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, which splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico at approximately 3:27 AM IST on March 19, 2025.
#FLASH: “PM Modi talking like a scientist surprised us!” says Falguni Pandya, sister-in-law of #SunitaWilliams, after her safe return to Earth.
She recalls PM Modi’s deep knowledge of aerospace and his warm gesture: “Babi kem cho?”
READ:https://t.co/RWsWkPkKpG@Astro_Suni… pic.twitter.com/03rksRbhMc
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) March 19, 2025
Reflecting on a past visit to India with Williams, Pandya recounted an interaction with Modi, who was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat. She noted that during their travels, the security personnel affectionately referred to her as “Babi,” a Gujarati term for sister-in-law. To her surprise, when they met Modi at a function, he greeted her warmly, saying, “Babi kem cho?” (How are you, sister-in-law?). Pandya expressed her appreciation, stating, “When someone like this, such a big CM, calls you like this, it feels good… it also feels that our leader respects us, takes care of us.”
Pandya also highlighted Modi’s keen interest in education and his support for Williams’ engagements with students across Gujarat. She remarked, “Modi ji was very interested in education… Sunita was going to many places and talking to children, so Modi ji had a lot of support and encouragement in that.”
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What left a lasting impression on both Pandya and Williams was Modi’s in-depth knowledge of aerospace. Pandya observed that during discussions about space programs, Modi conversed “like a scientist,” delving into technical details that surprised them.
She commented, “We were surprised that he knew so much, had so much interest in technical details.” Williams, too, was astonished by Modi’s familiarity with her work, especially regarding spacewalks and the functioning of the space station.
Pandya recalled, “He was talking in such a way as if he had read the whole book.”
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Reflecting on India’s aspirations in space exploration, Pandya expressed optimism, stating that with leaders like Modi, “forget about the moon, we will go to Mars as well.”
Williams’ recent mission faced unexpected challenges. Initially planned as a short eight-day test flight, technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft extended the mission to nine months.
The crew’s resilience and adaptability during this period were widely praised. Upon their return, recovery teams assisted the astronauts, ensuring their well-being after the prolonged mission.
The safe return of Williams and her crew has been a moment of pride and celebration, especially in India, where her achievements continue to inspire many. Her family’s reflections shed light on the supportive role played by Indian leaders in promoting space education and fostering a culture of scientific curiosity.