In 2001, as his elder sister’s wedding celebrations unfolded in full swing, a teenage Shubhanshu Shukla quietly slipped away from home in Lucknow, dressed in his wedding attire. His disappearance, during a critical family moment, left relatives anxious and his father deeply upset. Hours later, around 11:00 pm, he returned on a bicycle, breathless and visibly drained. Without offering an explanation, he simply asked, “Now tell me what to do,” and rejoined the wedding activities.
For a long time, no one in the family knew where he had gone or why he vanished that day. The truth came out only after he cleared the National Defence Academy (NDA) examination: he had secretly left the house to appear for the test that would mark the first step of his dream to serve the nation.
Not only had Shubhanshu kept his plans hidden, but he had also borrowed money from a friend to submit the application. His sister, Nidhi Mishra, later recalled the surprise and pride the family felt when he revealed that his absence on the wedding night had been in pursuit of a greater calling.
Moved by the events of the Kargil War, Shubhanshu had resolved early on to join the Indian Air Force. That drive led him through NDA, into the cockpit as a fighter pilot, and now to the brink of history as India’s astronaut preparing to visit the International Space Station. His quiet resolve and commitment have earned him a place among the country’s most respected defence officers.
Now, as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to represent India in space, his story—beginning with a determined teenage boy cycling through Lucknow’s streets while the rest of the family was caught up in wedding festivities—stands as a powerful reminder. With unwavering focus and belief, even the stars are within reach.
