Mangalore joyous after Mars Mission is successful

St. Agnes College, had to rush in the morning to attend special classes. But she managed to catch a glimpse of the live telecast of the success of Mars Orbiter Mission and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the scientists. “I felt very proud of the achievement made by our scientists and the other support staff involved in this maiden mission to Mars. I was sad I could not see the entire programme as I was getting late for my class,” she told The Hindu. “We had to finish the assigned task within the given time. Hence we had to call students,” said a staff member. Schools and colleges had been closed on Wednesday on account of Mahalaya Amavasya. Many in the city, like K.V. Rao, director of Pilikula Science Centre, were hooked to the television to see the final leg of the entry of the ISRO satellite into Mars’ orbit. “So much effort has been put in for the mission. We have been able to do that which nobody had dreamt earlier,” said Mr. Rao. “I was hooked onto the television right from 7 a.m. till 8.30 a.m. I am happy that this achievement has come at a right time when the country is inching towards becoming a super power,” he said. M. Suraj Rao, a software programmer and space enthusiast, said the accomplishment by ISRO displays the capability of our scientists. “ The tag, made in India, had been perceived as those of average quality. This achievement has proved sceptics wrong.” Mr. Rao, a resident of Matadakani, said the feat of ISRO brings more people towards space and its science. While hailing the achievement by ISRO, Educationalist N. Sukumar Gowda said that more needs to be done to bring students to basic science, which is the foundation for the success that ISRO scientists have achieved. “We need to see how this achievement will be used to change the mindset of students in schools and colleges from applied sciences to basic sciences,” he said. Residents celebrated ISRO’s feat by bursting crackers and distributing sweets at the Kavoor Junction. Members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajarang Dal and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad celebrated the occasion at PVS Circle and at Lalbagh Junction. -The Hindu