By Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, August 24: Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama has extended his warm congratulations to Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on the momentous achievement of Chandrayaan-3’s successful landing on the moon. In a heartfelt message, His Holiness expressed his admiration for the dedication and scientific prowess demonstrated by the Indian Scientific Research Organisation (ISRO) and its team.
The Dalai Lama praised the enduring spirit of scientific exploration that has been a hallmark of India throughout its history, stating, “The successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 is a tribute to the people of India who have devoted their attention to scientific development since ancient times.” He commended the ISRO leadership and its team for their unwavering commitment, describing their efforts as a testament to India’s scientific and technological maturity.
As a revered guest in India, His Holiness shared in the joy of this remarkable achievement, highlighting the significance of India’s strides in space exploration. He expressed confidence in ISRO’s continued leadership role in future scientific endeavours, offering his prayers and good wishes for their continued success.
This achievement places India among a select group of nations that have achieved a soft landing on the Moon, joining the ranks of the United States, the former Soviet Union, and China. The Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander successfully executed its planned touchdown in the lunar south pole region on August 23, at 18:04 local time (12:34 GMT), marking a historic milestone for the nation.
Celebrations have erupted across India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharing his exhilaration, stating, “India is now on the Moon.” He praised the accomplishment as a unique triumph that sets India apart on the global stage. Prime Minister Modi witnessed the event live from South Africa, where he is attending the BRICS summit.
Sreedhara Panicker Somanath, Chief of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), emphasized that this success was the result of the collective effort of generations of ISRO scientists. He acknowledged that the mission’s achievement reflected the dedication, innovation, and perseverance of a team committed to advancing India’s space capabilities.
This victory follows India’s previous attempt in 2019, which unfortunately ended in the loss of the lander and rover during the landing process. The Chandrayaan-3 mission seeks to address several key objectives, including the search for water-based ice that could contribute to future human habitation on the Moon. Additionally, the mission aims to uncover essential insights into the Moon’s physical characteristics, its surface, and the tectonic activity that shapes its interior.
