MissionShakti – ‘Credit Goes To Scientists’

Shweta Singh, 30, a teacher in Godda, Jharkhand, keeps herself updated on current affairs. When she read about the Mission Shakti launch, she was delighted and was thankful to the scientists who keep India’s air space secure

I teach Social Science and Hindi to students from Classes VI to VIII. I understand that it is the teachers of today who lay the foundation stones for a better tomorrow. And in order to be a good Social Science teacher I have to keep myself updated with the latest news, though I don’t always get the time for it, what with having to raise two young children.

However, I did manage to read up a little about the Mission Shakti launch. And I am proud of what DRDO (Defence Research And Development Organisation) has managed to achieve for the country. While the current government launched the programme, the major credit should go to the scientists who put in sleepless nights for the success of this mission.

I was surprised to know that it took the anti-satellite or A-SAT missile only three minutes to shoot down its intended target (a low-orbit satellite that was launched by ISRO on January 24). It is a proud moment for us because we are the fourth country in the world to have this technology at our disposal, apart from United States, Russia and China. I am pleasantly surprised to know that unlike China, India has been careful about minimising space debris as well.

Moves like these don’t impact people’s lives directly, but it does put them in a better headspace. This should be a moment of pride for all Indians. Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned that the missile is meant only as a defence measure even though it has the power to jam or destroy an enemy country’s satellite in space.

People should understand that with great powers come great responsibilities, and we should behave responsibly. I totally support the many strategic moves by the current government, but I don’t support the war cry from many sections of the society thereafter.

I wasn’t able to vote in 2014, but this time I intend to actively participate in building up the country by casting my precious vote.