Don’t get bogged down by fear of failure: Rakesh to students

Vikas Sharma

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Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 19

“Never let the fear of failure stop you from achieving your goals in life.” This was the success mantra given to students of different schools during a workshop-cum-motivational session by India’s first spaceman Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma (retd) at J&K Public School (JKPS) Kunjwani here today.

It was a dream come true not only for the students of the host schools and other institutes but also for all those who were present in the jam-packed auditorium of the school to be a part of this historic moment of interacting live with former Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot who made the entire nation proud when he flew aboard Soviet Rocket Soyuz T-11, launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, on April 2, 1984, as part of the Intercosmos Programme 33 years back.

“Even if the goal is beyond reach one should never stop trying and continue attempts repeatedly to taste success. Grab every opportunity that comes your way,” astronaut Rakesh Sharma advised the students.

He cited the example of basketball legend Michael Jordan who achieved success after confronting series of failures. “Challenges look bigger to you when you look at them from outside. If you do not accept challenges then how could you know how big the task is. So do not shy away from making attempts,” Rakesh Sharma maintained.

When one of the students asked the astronaut what was the first thing he did after reaching space, Rakesh Sharma replied, “After reaching the space, I looked at my country on the first day then on the remaining days I searched for continents, countries, oceans, seas, etc. When you look at the world from space, it appears to be a small place. I feel privileged to be the citizen of this beautiful country.”

“The most enchanting view to be seen from the space is the sunrise and sunset,” India’s first spaceman stated. In reply to a question about how he felt after staying in the space for eight days, Rakesh said, “It was almost like lying on a bed for eight continuous days and the next day there is a feeling of weakness in the body, which is quite obvious.”

Talking about his motivation, Rakesh Sharma said “I never ever had thought that I would go into space. Since childhood I was fond of listening crispy sounds of fighter planes. I was in a Class VI when one of my cousins who was in the Indian Air Force provided me the opportunity to sit in the cockpit of a fighter plane. After that, the curiosity/excitement really grabbed me.”

In reply to another question, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma said, “The feeling which I had after reaching the space was summarised perfectly in the lines of the song ‘Saare jahan se acha Hindustan hamara’. This song perfectly describes the great and unique culture of our country which has unity in diversity.”