Screens, large and small, across Kolkata had people of all ages watching with bated breath, eyes glued and not an eyelid batting — no, this wasn’t the nail-biting finish of a cricket match but the historic landing of Chandrayaan 3 on the Moon. As the soft landing was declared successful at 6.04pm, cheers of joy filled the air and strangers hugged each other to celebrate one of India’s proudest moments.
A day later, as the country still basks in glory, My Kolkata revisits moments from the historic day…
Students of Rammohan Mission School and principal Sujoy Biswas witness the historic moment on a giant screen set up in the school Soumyajit Dey
Where: Rammohan Mission School
Who were there: More than 200 students of classes between IX to XII, a few students of junior classes, teachers and principal
What they had to say: “This was a historic moment and, after a hectic day of school, all these students and teachers stayed back to be a part of the celebration,” said Sujoy Biswas, principal of Rammohan Mission School. “We will soon invite a space researcher to school to explain to the students the entire process of the landing on the Moon.”
“We all wanted to be a part of this together and celebrate the glory of India,” Kushankur Roy, a student of Class IX.
Interactive sessions were planned at Science City to keep the young visitors engaged National Council Of Science Museums
Where: Science City auditorium
Who were there: Around 80 students and teachers gathered to celebrate the occasion.
What happened: A series of engaging activities had been planned for visitors on this special day. Not only was the Chandrayaan 3 landing projected on a giant screen, but students and other visitors were also imparted fundamental knowledge about the Moon, the science of rocket launches, the intricate orbits pursued by Chandrayaan 3 and the concept of soft landings through interactive sessions. A dedicated selfie zone greeted visitors at the entrance.
What they had to say: “The landing of the Chandrayaan 3 lander, Vikram, near the south pole of the moon was a highly anticipated event that captured the attention of the entire nation. People were glued to the live streaming and praying for its success. Children were particularly curious about this event and Science City took the initiative to organise a variety of activities for them. These activities aimed to explain the basic principles behind rocket launches and soft landings, which can be a great way to engage children in science education,” said Anurag Kumar, director of Science City.
“We all are fortunate that such an event took place in our lifetime. We are immensely proud that our country made such a mark,” said a participating student.
my model of Vikram Lander made by the scientists at BITM was on display and (right) students of Purushottam Bhagchandka Academic School cheer the ISRO feat Soumyajit Dey and Purushottam Bhagchandka Academic School Facebook page
Where: Birla Industrial and Technological Museum (BITM), Gurusaday Dutt Road
Who were there: Around 1,200-odd people, including 600 students from 30 schools across Kolkata, gathered to be a part of the moment.
What they had to say: “We still have a long way to go but with this successful landing, we showed that Indian scientists are one of the best in the world,” said Subhabrata Chaudhuri, director of BITM.
With inputs from Bishwabijoy Mitra