Syed Khalique Ahmed
NEW DELHI—Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) and other Muslim religious and political leaders have cheered the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the successful landing of the Chandrayaan (moon craft) on the Moon’s surface on August 23.
ISRO scientists and engineers created a history by making the soft landing of the Chandrayaan-3 the Moon’s South Pole. India is the first country to have landed its moon craft on the South Pole of the moon where the surface is rocky and rough.
With the successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3, India joined the nations –the US, Russia, and China – that have landed their spacecraft successfully on the moon’s surface.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in South Africa attending the BRICS conference, witnessed the Chandrayaan’s landing virtually and congratulated the ISRO scientists’ feat. “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Team Chandrayaan, ISRO, and all the scientists of the country who have worked tirelessly for years for this moment. Through the hard work and talent of our scientists, India has reached the South Pole of the Moon where no other country in the world has ever reached,” PM said in a video conference with ISRO scientists.
ISRO chairman S. Somnath announced, “We have achieved a soft landing on the Moon. India is on the Moon.”
Joining the nation in celebrating the successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon’s surface, JIH vice-president Prof. Mohammed Saleem Engineer said, “JIH extends its congratulations to ISRO, the entire scientific community, and the nation on the successful accomplishment of the Chandrayan-3 mission.”
“This is an occasion of immense pride for the entire nation. This achievement marks a new phase in space exploration and technological progress within the country. India became the first country to achieve a soft landing on the lunar south pole of the moon. Everyone who was part of this venture deserves praise and acclaim,” Prof. Saleem said in his statement shared on social media.
AIMIM leader and Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad Asaduddin Owaisi also hailed the landmark achievement of ISRO. In a statement posted on X, he said, “Mubarakbaad to the team @isro. It is a proud moment for us as Indians. Another great addition to India’s long legacy of scientific achievement #Chandrayaan.”
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan said, “Congratulations to all the scientists and engineers … the whole team which has made India so proud.”
Political commentator Dr. Tasleem Rahmani, congratulated the ISRO for the successful soft landing of the Chandrayaan-3 on the South Pole of the moon. He said “We are now the fourth nation on the Moon. Salutes to Dr. Kalam’s soul on this occasion. Today we must celebrate our national success as one nation together.”
“India has scripted a new history,” he said.
Former chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) Firoz Bakht Ahmed said that India after achieving the feat as the fourth country to conquer the lunar surface has become a “VISHWA GURU” in space exploration technology.
In a statement to ANI news agency, Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali of Lucknow said, “Children offered namaz at Islamic Centre madrasa and prayed for the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3. They also study science here so they have a lot of curiosity regarding this. I extend my heartiest congratulations to all the scientists and officials of ISRO.”
Noted Urdu poet Khalid Azmi composed a poem on Chandrayaan’s successful landing on the Moon.
“भारत है मेरा देश और यह मेरी जान है,
धरती से आसमान, तिरंगे की शान है,
भारत है विश्वगुरु और रहेगा यह हमेशा,
इसका सुबूत आज हमारा चंद्रयान है!”
(India is my country and it is my life, From earth to sky, the glory of the tricolour; India is Vishwaguru and will always be so, The proof of this is our Chandrayaan today!)
Leaders of all political parties, including Rahul Gandhi of the Congress, also congratulated ISRO’s scientists. Union ministers including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and chief ministers of various states including Tamilnadu’s MK Stalin and Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan applauded India’s scientific community.
The world also congratulated India on achieving a rare feat. Bill Nelson, the Administrator of NASA, wrote on X, “Congratulations @isro on your successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar South Pole landing!” NASA helped ISRO to closely track the Indian spacecraft to the Moon with NASA’s deep space network.
The European Space Agency also congratulated India, describing ISRO’s achievement as an “incredible” moment in space history. “Incredible! Congratulations to @isro #Chandrayaan_3, and to all the people of India!!” the Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA) Josef Aschbacher, posted on X.
Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosm also congratulated India.
