An old video clip is doing the rounds on the internet and ISRO chief Dr K. Sivan has won millions of hearts on social media. In an interview with Sun TV, when asked by the interviewer that as a Tamilian, having reached such a respectable and big position, what does he want to say to people of Tamil Nadu, ISRO chief K Sivan replied to the question by saying that he is an Indian first and joined the Space Research organisation as an Indian.
In this video, a Sun News interviewer asked Dr K Sivan, “As a Tamil, having attained a big position, what do you want to say to the people of Tamil Nadu? To this, Dr. Sivan gives an epic reply stating, “First of all, I am an Indian. I joined ISRO as an Indian. ISRO is a place where people from all regions and languages work and contribute. But I am grateful to my brothers who celebrate me.”
It should be noted that the interview was taken by Sun News in January 2018. Soon after this heart-touching statement, people took to Twitter to show huge respect for putting India’s identity in the first place.
“I am from Bihar and I am proud of Dr. Sivan like every other Indian. It doesn’t affect me which state he belongs to, what religion he practices, or which language he speaks. For me, he is an honest, hard working chairman of a world renowned space agency. He is our national hero,” tweeted Aakash Srivastava, who is an architect working in New Delhi, according to his profile.
Vani Chauhan tweeted “’First of all, I am an Indian.’ This statement from ISRO Chief K Sivan is something I wish every Indian thought. I see so many thumping their chests to claim superiority of their regional identity or ridiculing others & forget that without India they will have no identity.”
Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugged Dr. K Sivan outside the space centre in Bengaluru and consoled him just six hours after ISRO lost contact with the Vikram lander. This touching gesture was appreciated by several people, including several political leaders. PM Modi patted ISRO Chairman as he broke down at the ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru
On September 7, 2019, ISRO lost connection with the Lander just 2 minutes and 2.1 km away from India scripting history by becoming the first nation to land near the Lunar South Pole.
From working in his father’s fields, studying in a small government school to walking barefoot to school, the ISRO chairperson’s journey is well and truly inspiring.
Before taking charge as ISRO chief, K.Sivan plied his trade as the former Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Center and Liquid Propulsion centre. Sivan’s success didn’t come that easy. He had to face a lot of struggles in his life before seeing success.
Today, several other scientists in India and across the world draw inspiration from Dr.K.Sivan.