New Delhi, June 29 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday interacted with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian aboard the International Space Station, through a video-link conversation and said although Shubhanshu Shukla is presently the farthest from the Indian motherland, he remains closest to the hearts of all Indians. He noted that Shubhanshu's name itself carries auspiciousness, and his journey marks the beginning of a new era.

Asked by the Prime Minister to speak about his first thought after reaching space, the Indian astronaut spotlighted that "no border is visible" and that India looks "very grand, very big".

"The first view was of the Earth and after seeing the Earth from space, the first thought and the firs...