USA (Commonwealth Union)_ Chandrayaan-3, the successful lunar exploration mission by India, scripted its name in history as it successfully accomplished its soft landing at the moon’s southern pole. The Chandrayaan program led by ISRO showcases the Vikram lander alongside the Pragyan rover, mirroring the setup of Chandrayaan-2. The propulsion module takes on the role of an orbiter. The mission was launched on July 14, 2023, and the lander and rover executed a graceful soft-landing near the lunar south pole on August 23, 2023. This landmark event has positioned India as the pioneering nation to successfully execute a lunar landing at the south pole.
Spanning across 200 countries and encompassing over 32 million individuals, the Global Indian diaspora celebrated the historic soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 with profound pride and jubilation. Indians living abroad enthusiastically watched and celebrated the live telecast of this landmark mission through ISRO’s official website, YouTube channel, and other media sources. Let us delve into how these diaspora communities gathered to collectively witness this extraordinary event.
United States of America: The Indian Embassy in Washington, DC, orchestrated a special telecast event of Chandrayaan-3’s lunar landing. Eminent guests, including senior figures from NASA, the US State Department, the US Congress, academic institutions, think tanks, and media personnel, participated in the event. Further, cultural presentations and speeches by notable Indian-Americans augmented the celebratory atmosphere. Indian-American entrepreneur M. R. Rangaswami expressed his pride for India as well as its diaspora as Chandrayaan-3’s lander module endeavored to touch down on the moon’s surface. Rangaswami, the founder of Indiaspora, a prominent US-based non-profit, articulated his sentiments during a discussion titled ‘The Road to India@100’, a part of a G20 Forum held in New Delhi from August 22 to 24. Rangaswami shared a video message saying, “Today is a proud moment for India and the diaspora. I think it is 5.25 pm… we are going to switch on the live streaming of Chandrayaan-3”.
United Arab Emirates: The Indian Consulate in Dubai organized a live telecasting of the lunar landing in its office. A number of Indians from Dubai and neighboring emirates assembled to see and support India’s lunar achievement. The event encompassed a quiz competition focused on India’s space endeavors, along with exhibits of posters and models related to Chandrayaan-3.
United Kingdom: The Indian High Commission in London organized a live streaming of Chandrayaan-3’s landing at its Nehru Centre. Indians living in London and other locations in the UK gathered to hail India’s great accomplishment in space exploration. The event encompassed a group discussion on India’s space program, featuring experts from ISRO, the UK Space Agency, and esteemed academic institutions.
Australia: In Sydney, Australia, a group of Indian-descent students studying at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) orchestrated a watch party at the university auditorium to witness the Chandrayaan-3 landing. They extended invitations to fellow students and faculty members to partake in witnessing this historic event. The auditorium was adorned with informative posters and banners detailing the Chandrayaan-3 mission and ISRO.
Malaysia: The High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur arranged a live screening of the lunar landing at its cultural center. As many as 500 Indians living in Malaysia gathered to witness the event, wholeheartedly hailing India’s lunar triumph. The program was enriched by a cultural segment showcasing India’s diverse heritage.
Saudi Arabia: The Indian Embassy in Riyadh facilitated a live streaming of Chandrayaan-3’s moon-landing inside its premises. Hundreds of Indians employed in Saudi Arabia convened to celebrate this historic juncture, expressing their wishes for ISRO’s accomplishments. An ISRO scientist also delivered a presentation on India’s space program during the event.
Overall, these initiatives by the Indian diaspora communities across the world serve as a testament to their love and respect for their motherland, India. It also shows how the global Indian diaspora gathered to watch the live coverage of Chandrayaan-3. Comparable fervor and support for India’s lunar mission were witnessed in numerous other nations too. This landmark occurrence not only underscores India’s prowess in space exploration but also brings together Indians across the world in a shared sentiment of pride and achievement.
