Bengaluru: Let’s dig into the past. While most of you erupt with joy on April 2 as India won its second cricket World Cup nine years ago, there is another achievement we might not know. 

It was on this day way back in the year 1984 that Indian astronaut Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian in space. 

He flew in Soyuz T11 spacecraft on this day. 

There is an anecdote which we must tell you. When the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi asked him, “How does India look from space?"

To this, Sharma said, "Sare Jahan Se Achcha."

 

Truly, words are etched in India’s memory. 

More on Rakesh Sharma and the mission: 

Soyuz T-11 was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic. A popular website quotes that Sharma spent 7 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes aboard the Salyut 7 during which his team conducted scientific and technical studies which included forty-three experimental sessions. 
It should be noted that he worked mainly on bio-medicine and also remote sensing. 
With Sharma's voyage aboard Soyuz T-11, India became the 14th nation to send a man to outer space.
Rakesh Sharma then joined HAL in the year 1987. He served as the chief test pilot. He retired in tey year 2001.