Modern India must continue to lead the world: Modi

"Modern India must continue playing this leading role of ‘Jagad-guru Bharat’," said Modi as he congratulated the space scientists for successfully inserting the Mars Orbiter Mission into Martian orbit.

"The odds were stacked against us. Of the 51 missions attempted across the world so far, a mere 21 had succeeded. But we have prevailed!" he said.

"History has been created today. We have dared to reach out into the unknown. And have achieved the near impossible. I congratulate all ISRO scientists, as well as all my fellow Indians, on this historic occasion. Travelling a mind-boggling distance of more than 650 million, or 65 crore kilometres ... we have gone beyond the boundaries of human enterprise and imagination. We have, accurately navigated our spacecraft, through a route known to very few," he said.

"And, we have done so, from a distance so large; that it took even a command signal from Earth, more time to reach it, than it takes sunlight to reach us," he said.

The Prime Minister was addressing scientists after witnessing the insertion procedure at ISRO in Bangalore. The Prime Minister said history has been created by the Indian scientists reaching Mars in the first attempt. He said India is the first to have succeeded in the very first attempt.

The Prime Minister said that Indian scientists, through their hard work and dedication, have stretched the boundaries of human enterprise and imagination. He described the Mars Orbiter Mission as an indigenous pan-Indian effort, stretching from Bangalore to Bhubaneswar, and Faridabad to Rajkot.

Praising the scientists,  Modi said, the hunger of exploration and the thrill of discovery are not for the faint hearted. He remarked that he had chosen to be present at ISRO today, unmindful of success or failure of the mission.

He exhorted scientists to set even more challenging targets for themselves, and said he had confidence that they would be able to achieve even those targets.

"You have  made a habit of achieving the impossible," the Prime Minister said. 

Modi said the success of the space programme is a shining symbol of "what we are capable of as a nation."

A successful space programme generates applications across multiple domains, he added. He said the efforts of India's space scientists are deepening our governance, strengthening our economy and improving our lives.

Noting that the whole nation celebrates when the cricket team wins a tournament, the Prime Minister described the success of the Mars Orbiter Mission as a thousand times greater, and said all Indians must celebrate the success of our space scientists today.

"Let India celebrate the achievements of its scientists. Let students in every school and college applaud their efforts," he added.

Governor of Karnataka Vajubhai Vala, the Chief Minister of Karnataka  Siddaramaiah, and Union Ministers  Ananth Kumar and  Sadanand Gowda were present on the occasion.