NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi has written an emotional letter to Indian-origin Nasa astronaut Sunita Williams, calling her an illustrious daughter of India and wishing her a safe return to Earth from International Space Station (ISS) where she has been stranded for more than nine months.
Praising the Indian American and inviting her to India after her return, the PM said in the letter he wrote on March 1, “It will be a pleasure for India to host one of its most illustrious daughters.” The letter was posted on Tuesday by space minister Jitendra Singh on X.
Writing for him and all Indians, PM said, “Even though you are thousands of miles away, you remain close to our hearts. The people of India are praying for your good health and success in your mission.”
Modi had handed over the letter to noted astronaut Mike Massimino, when they met at a conference, with a request to ensure that it reaches Williams, who flew to the orbital lab on June 5 last year.
“During the course of our conversation (with Massimino), your name came up and we discussed how proud we are of you and your work. Following this interaction, I could not stop myself from writing to you,” the PM wrote. Sunita, touched by the gesture, expressed her gratitude to PM Modi and India.
In the letter, Modi said her mother, Bonnie Pandya, must be “keenly” awaiting her return. “I am sure Late Deepak-bhai’s blessings are with you as well,” Modi said, referring to her father, Deepak Pandya, who was a resident of Gujarat, and died in 2020.
Williams and her colleague Butch Wilmore flew to the orbital lab on June 5 last year on what was supposed to be a days-long roundtrip to test out Boeing’s Starliner on its first crewed flight. The spaceship, however, developed propulsion problems and was deemed unfit to fly them back. It returned uncrewed.
