Click to play videoNew Delhi: The last time anyone at the Tagore Bal Niketan School in Karnal was this anxious was in 2003 when the first Indian woman in space, Kalpana Chawla, was returning to Earth after her doomed space sojourn.
On Thursday, students at Kalpana's school held prayers again, this time for the safe return of Sunita Williams, another Indian American astronaut, who was returning to Earth.
Some students of the school had visited NASA in the US and met their idol Kalpana. Though Kalpana is longer with them today, they say Sunita, too, is a role model for them
"It's a matter of pride for all of us that after Kalpana another Indian, Sunita Williams, is in space. We are praying that she should return safely."
Such is the fervour at the school that Kalpana's music teacher has composed a song for the safe return of Sunita.
The Atlantis spacecraft carrying Sunita Williams back to Earth was scheduled to land on Thursday.
Sunita has created a record for the longest stay by a woman in space.
"We have been praying for Sunita's safe return and a special prayer was held in our school in this regard," Dr Rajan Lamba, principal of the school, said.
He said the memories of the Columbia space shuttle crash, in which Kalpana lost her life, were still fresh in their minds.
"Like Kalpana, Sunita too has done us proud. Her remarkable feat is a proud moment for all of us," Lamba says.
He says his school would be sending its tenth batch of two students to NASA, which sponsors their trip every year, later this year.
In Chandigarh, where Kalpana studied at Punjab Engineering College (1978-82 batch), head of department, Aeronautical Engineering, Dr SC Sharma, said the department had been praying for Sunita's safe return.
"We have been praying that Sunita should return safely," he said.
Though the students were away from the institute for summer vacations many had called in to say they were glued to the TV sets to catch the news of Sunita's return.
(Inputs from Agency)
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