India, June 28 -- India looks grand and bigger from space than it does on map, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla told Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a video conference on Saturday.

PM Modi interacted with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who scripted history by becoming the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS).

Prime Minister Modi told Shukla that though he may be the farthest from Indian soil, but he is the closest to the hearts of its people.

"You may be the farthest from Indian soil, but you are the closest to the hearts of its people. Even your name carries the word 'Shubh' (auspicious), and your journey marks a new and hopeful beginning, a Shubh Aarambh, for the youth of our nation," PM Modi said, addi...