Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a letter to Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who today began her return journey to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) after being stranded there for more than nine months.

In a letter dated March 1, which was shared by Union Minister Jitendra Singh on X today, the Prime Minister said he had inquired about the well-being of Ms Williams – who flew to the orbital lab on June 5 last year – when he met President Donald Trump and his predecessor, Joe Biden, during his visits to the United States.

The letter was made public hours after Ms Williams and her colleague, Butch Wilmore, undocked from the ISS for a 17-hour trip back home.

PM Modi recalled that at a meeting with former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino in Delhi this month, her name had come up in their conversation.

“We discussed how proud we are of you and your work. Following this interaction, I could not stop myself from writing to you,” PM Modi said.

“1.4 billion Indians have always taken great pride in your achievements. Recent developments have yet again showcased your inspirational fortitude and perseverance,” he wrote.

As the whole world waits, with abated breath, for the safe return of Sunita Williams, this is how PM Sh @narendramodi expressed his concern for this daughter of India.
“Even though you are thousands of miles away, you remain close to our hearts,” says PM Sh Narendra Modi’s… pic.twitter.com/MpsEyxAOU9

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) March 18, 2025

He said her mother, Bonnie Pandya, must be “keenly” awaiting her return.

“I am sure that Late Deepakbhai’s blessings are with you as well,” the Prime Minister said, referring to her father, Deepak Pandya, who was a resident of his home state, Gujarat, and died in 2020.

PM Modi also said he “fondly” remembers meeting him and her during his visit to the US in 2016.

In the presence of astronaut Sunita Williams and Kalpana Chawla’s family pic.twitter.com/sPJbrQxdPU

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 6, 2016

“Even though you are thousands of miles away, you continue to remain close to our hearts. The people of India are praying for your good health and success in your mission,” PM Modi told the 59-year-old astronaut.

“After your return, we are looking forward to seeing you in India. It will be a pleasure for India to host one of its most illustrious daughters,” he added.

He also sent his “warm regards” to her husband, Michael Williams.

Sunita Williams Flew To Space Station In June

Sunita Williams and her colleague, Butch Wilmore, flew to the orbital lab on June 5 last year, on what was supposed to be a days-long roundtrip to test out Boeing’s Starliner on its first crewed flight.

The spaceship, however, developed propulsion problems and was deemed unfit to fly them back. It instead returned uncrewed.

ALSO READ | Balance, Vision Issues: What Happens To Human Body After 9 Months In Space

The two astronauts were then reassigned to the NASA-SpaceX Crew-9 mission, which saw a Dragon spacecraft fly to the ISS in September last year with a team of two — American astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov — rather than the usual four, to make room for the stranded astronauts.

On Sunday, a relief team — Crew-10 — docked with the space station to make the way for Ms Williams and Mr Wilmore’s much-awaited homecoming, along with Mr Hague and Mr Gorbunov.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the Kumbh, but did not pay tribute to those killed in the January 29 stampede at the gathering, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi said today. Addressing the media after the Prime Minister’s speech in Lok Sabha, during which he thanked the people of Uttar Pradesh for their support in organising the mega gathering in Prayagraj, Mr Gandhi said, “I wanted to support what the Prime Minister (Modi) said. Kumbh is our tradition, history and culture. Our only complaint is that the Prime Minister did not pay tribute to those who died in Kumbh.”

The Congress leader added that youngsters expected work opportunities at the Kumbh. “So, the Prime Minister must have spoken about it,” he said. When the media asked him about not getting a chance to speak, Mr Gandhi replied, “According to democratic structure, the Leader of the Opposition should get an opportunity to speak, but they won’t let us. This is new India.”

In his Lok Sabha speech, the Prime Minister praised the Uttar Pradesh administration for successfully hosting the Kumbh, which saw a massive footfall of over 60 crore. “I want to thank the public and administration for the successful organisation of the Mahakumbh. The success of the Mahakumbh is the result of the efforts of various people. I want to thank everyone: the country’s devotees, the public of UP, especially the people of Prayagraj. We all know that strenuous efforts took place to bring Ganga to earth; similar efforts have been taken to hold the grand Mahakumbh,” the Prime Minister said.

“The whole world has witnessed the great glory of Bharat through the Mahakumbh. This is because of the contribution of the country’s people. This Mahakumbh was inspired by the faith of the people, for the determination of the people. In this Mahakumbh, we saw the greatness of the awakening of our national consciousness,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the grand event’s success had silenced doubts and fears raised by “certain critics” about India’s capabilities. He said the gathering was a powerful demonstration of the nation’s potential and resolve. “We felt the nation’s preparations for the next 1,000 years during the Ram Mandir ceremony, and today, just one year later, the organisation of the Maha Kumbh reinforces that same vision.”

“In the life of any nation, there are events that become part of its history, transcending time and becoming an example for the generations to come. The Maha Kumbh is one such event for India,” he stated, underscoring the significance of such national milestones in strengthening the collective spirit of the country.

“The grandeur of the Maha Kumbh is a reflection of the awakening of our national consciousness, and it stands as a powerful reply to those who doubt our capabilities,” he said.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi said the Opposition must have been allowed to speak about the Kumbh. “He (Prime Minister) was speaking optimistically on the Maha Kumbh. The Opposition also should have been given a chance to present their point because the Opposition also has sentiments towards it and they should not have any problem if we expressed ourselves. The Opposition should have also been allowed to speak for two minutes,” she told reporters.

The 44-day religious gathering at Prayagraj drew crores of pilgrims and tourists from across the country and the world. However, a tragic event during the event was a stampede near the Sangam – the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati — on January 29. According to the state government, 30 people died in the stampede and 60 others were injured. Another tragedy took place in New Delhi station, where a huge rush to board trains for Prayagraj led to a stampede, killing 18 people.

Violent clashes erupted in central Nagpur near the RSS headquarters after protests over the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb escalated. Police and firemen were injured, vehicles torched, and widespread property damage ensued. Union home ministry demanded a report, while Chief Minister and local officials appealed for calm and assured strict action against rioters.