More than four decades have passed since an Indian first gazed down at his homeland from the vastness of space and was asked to describe what he saw. In 1984, Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Rakesh Sharma, aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 spacecraft, responded with words that would forever be etched into India’s collective memory—“Saare Jahaan Se Accha” (Better than the entire world). That poetic phrase, borrowed from the legendary poem by Allama Iqbal, became a moment of national pride, uniting a billion hearts in admiration for their country as seen from above.
Now, in 2025, another astronaut, one with deep Indian roots, has had the privilege of viewing India from space. NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, fresh from an extraordinary 286-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), has returned to Earth with a similar sentiment, one of awe and admiration for the land of her ancestors. Her reaction, though expressed in different words, carried the same emotion.
“Amazing, just amazing,” she said. “India is incredible. Every time we passed over the Himalayas, Butch (Wilmore, fellow astronaut) captured some incredible images—it was breathtaking.”
Two astronauts, separated by decades and hailing from different backgrounds—one an IAF officer on a Soviet mission, the other a NASA veteran on a SpaceX-powered expedition—both gazed down at India from orbit and found themselves captivated by its beauty.
Looking Down at India from the Stars
1984: Rakesh Sharma and His Historic Response
In the early 1980s, India was still taking its first steps in space exploration, closely collaborating with the Soviet Union. On April 3, 1984, Rakesh Sharma made history by becoming the first Indian to travel to space, embarking on an eight-day mission aboard the Soyuz T-11 spacecraft as part of the Soviet Intercosmos program.
During his time on the Salyut 7 space station, Sharma conducted several scientific experiments and took in the mesmerizing sight of Earth from above. His mission was a landmark event for India, but the moment that truly captured the nation’s heart came when then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in a joint televised interaction with Soviet officials, asked him:
“Upar se Bharat kaisa dikhta hai aapko?” (How does India look from space?)
Without hesitation, Sharma responded with the now-iconic words:
“Saare Jahaan Se Accha.” (Better than the entire world.)
His response was not just an observation; it was a deeply emotional declaration, filled with patriotism and pride. Sharma had borrowed this phrase from Allama Iqbal’s legendary poem, written during British colonial rule, which had since become synonymous with India’s spirit of resilience and nationalism.
At that moment, Sharma did not just describe India’s physical beauty—he expressed the pride of a nation that, despite its challenges, saw itself as extraordinary.
2025: Sunita Williams’ View from the ISS
Fast forward to 2025. The world has changed. Space travel has become more frequent, more collaborative, and more advanced. Private companies like SpaceX now play a major role in human spaceflight, and astronauts regularly conduct long-duration missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Among them was Sunita Williams, a veteran astronaut of Indian-American descent, who has spent a staggering 286 days in space during her latest mission. Aboard the ISS, she looked down at Earth many times, but when she flew over India, the emotions ran deeper.
For Williams, the highlight was the Himalayas.
“And you can see, like I’ve described it before, just like this ripple that happened, obviously when the plates collided, and then as it flows down into India. It’s many, many colours.”
Her words were not those of nostalgia but of sheer wonder. As someone trained by NASA to study Earth’s features from above, she saw the Himalayas not just as towering mountains but as a geological masterpiece, formed over millions of years when the Indian and Eurasian plates collided.
A Personal Bond with the Land Below
Unlike Sharma, whose mission was a national milestone for India, Williams’ connection to the country was personal. Born in the United States to an Indian father and a Slovenian mother, she has often spoken about her deep-rooted ties to India. Her father, Deepak Pandya, hails from Gujarat, and she has visited India multiple times, embracing her heritage with great enthusiasm.
Now that she has returned to Earth, Williams is eager to visit India again. She is especially excited about India’s growing presence in human spaceflight, as the country prepares for Axiom Mission’s upcoming Indian astronaut.
“I hope, and I think for sure, I’m gonna be going back to my father’s home country, visiting with people and getting excited about the first—or not the first—but the Indian national who’s going up on the Axiom Mission coming up. Pretty awesome.”
Returning to Earth After Nearly Nine Months in Space
After spending nearly nine months in orbit, Williams, along with her fellow Crew-9 astronauts—Nick Hague (NASA), Butch Wilmore (NASA), and Aleksandr Gorbunov (Roscosmos)—made a safe return to Earth. Their spacecraft, a SpaceX Dragon capsule, successfully splashed down off the coast of Florida, marking the completion of another successful mission.
The team was welcomed back with congratulations from across the world. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, acknowledging their remarkable journey, took to social media to post a warm message:
“Welcome back, Crew-9! The Earth missed you.”
Meanwhile, Butch Wilmore, Williams’ crewmate, playfully suggested that she should take them to India for a visit. Laughing, she replied:
“Absolutely. You might stick out a little bit, but that’s okay. We’ll get you all primed with some spicy food, will be good.”
India Through the Eyes of Astronauts: A Timeless Beauty
The fascination with Earth from space is universal, but for astronauts of Indian origin, the experience of seeing India from orbit carries an extra layer of emotion.
For Rakesh Sharma, it was an overwhelming sense of patriotism that led him to quote a poem that symbolized India’s greatness.
For Sunita Williams, it was a more personal connection—an admiration for the land of her father, combined with a scientific appreciation of India’s breathtaking landscapes, particularly the majestic Himalayas.
Despite the four decades that separate Sharma’s and Williams’ experiences, one thing remains unchanged—India, seen from the heavens, remains as stunning as ever. Whether through the eyes of a Soviet-era astronaut or a NASA veteran aboard a modern space station, the land that stretches beneath them still inspires the same awe, the same pride, and the same deep-seated love.
And as India prepares for its next space milestone, with homegrown astronauts soon venturing beyond Earth aboard private missions, one can only wonder what future explorers will say when they look down at their homeland from the vastness of space.
Perhaps, their words, too, will echo the sentiments of those who came before them. Perhaps, once again, we will hear someone say:
“Saare Jahaan Se Accha.”