Modi congratulates ISRO scientists over Mars mission success

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today congratulated scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) over the success of Mars Orbiter Mission, reports the Indian daily The Times of India.
"Aaj MOM ka Mangal se milan ho gaya, aur Mangal ko MOM mil gayi," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said congratulating scientists from the Isro for putting India on the world map of space exploration and becoming the first to have a successful Mars mission on debut.
Stating that he had complete confidence that "MOM would never disappoint," he said he knew it as soon as the short name for the Mars Orbiter Mission became 'MOM', the Indian newspaper on its website reported.
In a speech riddled with metaphors, Modi urged Indians to take pride in Isro's achievement.
"...When our cricket team wins a tournament and returns, the entire country rejoices, this is an achievement greater by a 1,000 times," he said, and added that every school and college must dedicate 5 minutes celebrating this.
"History has been created! We've dared to reach out into the unknown and achieved the near impossible," he said in English soon after.
Alternating between Hindi and English, his efforts were deliberate and struck an immediate chord with the scientists, many of who interrupted his speech with applauses.
The sheer distance covered, the effort to communicate with the spacecraft and the "agony-stricken wait," Modi said, deserved recognition.

"Sometimes we flip when we order a parata and get a roti on our plate. Imagine the wait, without knowing how the spacecraft has received it and how it's going to react," he asked.
That India might be the first nation to tell the world about the presence of methane on Mars despite all odds having been against us, he said is proof that our scientists can challenge anybody in the world.
"And this, we must remember has come from our ancestors who'd given the world Zero, predicted eclipses accurately, discover planetary positions. Today we've honoured our ancestors and inspired our next generation," he said.
Complementing Isro for cultivating a culture of progressively nurturing young talent in line with our ancient "guru- shishya parampara," he said we must push our boundaries further.
"We must use our science to better governance, achieve economic growth and deliver the fruits of our development to people it's never reached in the past."
Meanwhile, President Pranab Mukherjee also heaped praise on Isro scientists for the successful launch and described it as a "historic achievement".
The success of the mission to Mars will "inspire our scientists to make even greater strides", President Pranab Mukherjee said.
Mukherjee today congratulated the Indian Space Research Organization (Isro) for the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) entering the orbit of the red planet in its first attempt.
In a message to Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) chairman K Radhakrishnan, the president said: "I extend my hearty congratulations and best wishes to you and your team on the successful Orbit Insertion Maneuver of the Mars Orbiter Mission 'Mangalyaan' after a journey of nearly nine months. "The success has made India the first Asian country and ISRO the fourth space agency to send a satellite to the red planet. ISRO is also the first to enter the Martian Orbit in its maiden attempt."