Our real space hero!

Remember Rakesh Sharma? Very few would while those who do recollect might crinkle their forehead, wondering where they had heard this name before.

Well, Rakesh Sharma holds the distinction of being the only Indian and 128^th in the world to have traveled to space. It’s been 33 years since that feat but sadly, India is yet to send a man to space.

Rakesh Sharma was an Air Force pilot and he was one of the most spirited and fast-rising stars. He had flown 21 missions in the 1971 war with Pakistan before his 23rd birthday. 1984 was a time of great pain for India – the ambush by Army into the Golden temple, the Bhopal gas tragedy, the assassination of Indira Gandhi; so many bad things together which is probably why Rakesh Sharma shone like a bright star and remained in distinct memory for many of us.

At that time, Indira Gandhi was looking for a reason for India to celebrate and she spoke to the Russians and sold them the idea of sending an Indian to space alongside their Russians. Sharma, 35 years old then, was handpicked from some 50 cadets and he had to go grueling training in Russia, learn the Russian language, learn to eat their food and work/live in extremely cold weather. But he made it through all and lived for a week in space.

Gazing down on earth, when Indira Gandhi had asked him how India looked from there, his famous reply was, “sare jahaan se achcha!”

After living life as a celebrity for a couple of years, Sharma went back to life as usual, becoming a jet pilot, flying some Jaguars and Indian designed fighter jets, Tejas. He then moved on as a CEO of a Boston-based company making software for making planes, tanks and submarines. Eight years ago he retired and the space hero now lives a peaceful life with his wife and dog.

Wonder when Aamir Khan will set eyes on this hero whose story most certainly needs to be told least we all forget. And more importantly, wonder when India will send a man to space?