Lakhimpur, Aug 24: The families of two ISRO scientists hailing from Assam found themselves celebrating as Chandrayaan-3 made a successful soft landing on the lunar surface. The emotional family members of scientists Nidhi Sharma and Chayan Dutta, both from Tinsukia and Lakhimpur towns respectively, couldn’t contain their tears of joy as the historic touchdown unfolded.
Nidhi Sharma and Chayan Dutta had previously been part of both the Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 missions, actively contributing to the Landing Control Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at Sriharikota. The relief and happiness of their families were palpable during this remarkable achievement.
For Nidhi Sharma, the first words she uttered when calling her father-in-law, Deepak Dev, were, “Baba, we did it.”
Deepak Dev, in a state of elation, shared the family’s journey, saying, “We were very tense and apprehensive as Chandrayaan-2 had failed in the last few seconds. She had called us then and expressed her disappointment. With the success of Chandrayaan-3, we are feeling ‘over the moon,’ and I have no words to express our joy.”
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Deepak Dev’s wife, Sikha, added that Nidhi is expecting her first child, which has heightened their concerns about her well-being. She revealed that when she advised Nidhi to follow a proper diet and take care of herself, Nidhi replied that she was solely focused on the mission and would consider her health only after the mission succeeded. Their son, meanwhile, works for a multinational company in Bengaluru.
The live streaming of the Chandrayaan-3 landing was watched by Deepak and Shikha along with their neighbors and friends, creating a jubilant atmosphere at their home. In a similar vein, Dutta’s parents, Rajani Kumar Dutta and Sheela Dutta, watched the event’s live streaming on their mobile phones from their crockery shop.
Chayan Dutta’s father, Rajani Kumar Dutta, expressed his elation at the mission’s success, saying, “I am as ecstatic as every Indian is… what matters most is that the mission has been successful.” He recalled the previous mission, in which Chayan had been involved, and how it had failed their hard work. He vividly remembered the heartbreaking phone call from his son, who had cried like a child when informing them of the failure. Rajani had implored everyone to pray for success this time, and their prayers had seemingly been answered.
The success of Chandrayaan-3 has not only marked a historic achievement for ISRO but has also brought immense joy to the families of these dedicated scientists, underscoring the importance of their contributions to India’s space exploration endeavors.
