India, Aug 31: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s astronaut who recently travelled to the International Space Station as part of the Axiom 4 mission, delivered the 6th Dr. Rajaram Jaipuria Memorial Lecture on Saturday at Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Ghaziabad.
The lecture, themed “The Indian Century – Youth, Innovation and Nation Building,” brought together students, educators, parents, alumni and members of the Jaipuria family for an evening centred on aspiration, innovation and the role of young Indians in shaping the nation’s future.
The Memorial Lecture is held in honour of the memory and legacy of Dr. Rajaram Jaipuria, a distinguished industrialist, educationist and nation-builder, whose vision and commitment to education continue to guide the Jaipuria Group of Educational Institutions. The event was attended by the Jaipuria leadership, including Chairman Mr. Shishir Jaipuria, Vice-Chairperson Ms. Sunita Jaipuria, Director Mr. Saket Jaipuria, Ms. Anika Jaipuria and Mr. Yash Jaipuria, along with students, educators, parents, alumni and invited guests.
The programme began with a tour of an art exhibition and rocket model installations, followed by a visit to the school’s Atal Tinkering Lab, where students presented their innovative projects and creations to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. The guests then proceeded to the auditorium for the main programme. The formal programme commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, followed by the welcome address by Mr. Shishir Jaipuria, Chairman, Jaipuria Group of Educational Institutions.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Jaipuria said,
“I am of the firm view that the 21st century will be India’s century. We have a young population that represents not merely a demographic advantage, but an enormous reservoir of human potential. Our IT, financial, healthcare, and digital services have established India as a global force. At the same time, manufacturing is gaining momentum, supported by favourable policies, infrastructure, technology and global supply-chain opportunities. India today possesses a rare combination of scale, talent and ambition.”
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is an Indian Air Force officer and astronaut who is selected one of India’s astronaut candidates for the Gaganyaan programme. He was honoured with the Ashoka Chakra in 2026 for his achievements.
Delivering the Memorial Lecture, Group Captain Shukla shared his journey of becoming an astronaut, taking the audience through the years of preparation and training that culminated in the Axiom 4 mission.
He spoke about the discipline and teamwork required for spaceflight, his experiences aboard the International Space Station, and the unique perspective that viewing Earth from space offers. His interaction with the students also highlighted the importance of curiosity, perseverance and the willingness to pursue ambitious goals.
Addressing the students directly, he said,
“When you get to college, graduate and enter the world of works, the new thought should be to change India. You should want to change the world. You must feel the responsibility to help India become a developed nation by 2047. This thought has to be cultivated, nurtured and acted upon,” he said.
The lecture was followed by an engaging fireside chat with three students of Seth Anandram Jaipuria School. The students asked Group Captain Shukla questions spanning his childhood dreams, his journey towards becoming an astronaut, the challenges of astronaut training and what everyday life is like in space.
During the event, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla also released the ‘Space Explorer’ books for Grades 6 to 8, created by the academic team of Seth Anandram Jaipuria School. The books will form part of the school’s curriculum and its Jaipuria Space and Astronomy Programme, providing students with structured opportunities to learn about space, astronomy and India’s growing capabilities in space exploration.
The programme concluded with the Vote of Thanks delivered by Mr. Yash Jaipuria.
The Seth Anandram Jaipuria Group of Educational Institutions is a leading conglomerate comprising 27 K–12 schools, 7 preschools, 2 management institutes and a premier teachers’ training academy across north and central India. With a legacy of 81 years in education, the Group today has a community of approximately 20,000 students, 15,000 alumni and 1,000 educators.