Group captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s heartfelt “Namaskar from space” during the Axiom-4 mission has stirred national pride and captured the imagination of over 1.4 billion Indians. A proud alumnus of City Montessori School (CMS), Lucknow, Shukla has become a symbol of India’s scientific ambition and the power of purpose-driven education.
Shukla’s journey from CMS classrooms to the Indian Air Force and finally to the International Space Station (ISS) is a testament to the life-changing impact of education that nurtures both intellect and integrity.
“Shubhanshu’s journey from CMS to the cosmos proves that education must ignite both genius and character,” said Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, president and manager of CMS. “When learning goes beyond textbooks to foster curiosity, collaboration and conviction, it creates changemakers who solve for humanity—not just for grades.”
During the Axiom-4 mission, Shukla and his international crew conducted nearly 60 cutting-edge experiments aboard the ISS, including studies on stem cells, microalgae cultivation and the effects of microgravity—research with significant implications for agriculture, healthcare, and future space missions.
But beyond scientific achievement, the mission stood out for its powerful symbolism. Astronauts from countries with historical tensions worked in unity, reinforcing the idea that space exploration is a shared human endeavour. As Gandhi Kingdon noted, “The Axiom-4 mission showed the world that even amid geopolitical divides, humanity can unite for progress.”
CMS, founded by Jagdish and Bharti Gandhi with just five students, has since grown into the world’s largest city-based school with over 64,000 students—an accomplishment recognised by the Guinness World Records. Its educational philosophy blends academic excellence with ethical leadership and global citizenship, embodied in its guiding motto, Jai Jagat (Glory to the World).
Bharti Gandhi, CMS co-founder and director, explains, “Jai Jagat is more than a slogan—it is our mission, rooted in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: the world is one family. We aim to nurture students who lead with empathy, creativity and global responsibility.”
As India prepares for its own human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, Group Captain Shukla’s success stands as a beacon of what’s possible when visionary education meets national ambition.
His story underscores a vital question for educators: Are we equipping students with the courage, curiosity, and character to shape a better future—not just on Earth, but beyond it?
With CMS’s model of transformative education gaining global relevance, the school continues to inspire generations to dream bigger, reach farther, and lead with purpose—making the cosmos not a distant frontier, but a classroom without limits.
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