Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union Minister Anurag Thakur addressed students in Una, Himachal Pradesh, on the occasion of National Space Day. In his address, he stated that Lord Hanuman could be considered the first person to travel into space.
Shimla: On the occasion of National Space Day held in the Una district of Himachal Pradesh, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Member of Parliament from Hamirpur, Anurag Thakur, addressed students. During this time, he gave a unique and interesting example, stating that Lord Hanuman could be considered the first person to travel into space. He said that the new generation should not limit themselves to textbooks but should also draw inspiration from Indian traditions and ancient knowledge.
Hanuman Ji Described as 'First Astronaut'
During the program, Anurag Thakur asked the students, "Who was the first person to go to space?" The students' answers remained unclear, after which Thakur said with a smile, "I think Hanuman Ji was the first astronaut." Following this, he also shared a video of this conversation on his official social media account X (formerly Twitter) and captioned it: Pawansut Hanuman Ji... the first astronaut.
In his address, Anurag Thakur told the students that we should not limit our thinking to current events alone. He said, "Until we understand our thousands of years old traditions, knowledge, and culture, we will remain as the British taught us." He urged teachers and students to step out of books and pay attention to the nation, traditions, and cultural heritage. According to Thakur, doing so will give students a new perspective and profound knowledge.
Anurag Thakur Mentioned India's Space Achievements
Anurag Thakur's comment comes at a time when India is continuously achieving new heights in space science. Earlier this year, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (IAF) became the second Indian astronaut. Prior to this, in the year 1984, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma traveled to space with the Soviet Union and became the first Indian to step into space.
Globally, Russian astronaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the Earth in 1961. His historic journey lasted 108 minutes. Anurag Thakur's statement was not just a religious illustration; through it, he gave the message to the new generation to connect with the Indian knowledge tradition. He said that India's history and culture are an unlimited store of knowledge, and we should study it to further enrich our thinking and perspective.
