New Delhi :
"I am an Indian first," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief Kailasavadivoo Sivan's brilliant reply to a Tamil channel interviewer has been winning millions of hearts online. Sivan chose his nationality over regional identity when a reporter from Sun TV asked - as a Tamilian, how does it feel after achieving so much success and what does he want to say to his fellow natives from Tamil Nadu.
Replying to the Tamil channel, the ISRO chief said, "First of all, I am an Indian. I joined ISRO as an Indian. ISRO is a place where people from all regions and languages work and contribute. But I am grateful to my brothers who celebrate me".
Meanwhile, the video of Sivan's interview with Sun TV channel is going viral on various social media platforms with Twitterati showing respect to the ISRO chairman for presenting the national identity first. People also took to their respective social media accounts to share the heartening video, featuring Sivan.
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Watch Video Here:
As a Tamil, being at a big position, what do u want to say to ppl of TN?
— Basavaraj W (@b_wantamutte) September 10, 2019
Sivan: First of all, I am an Indian, I joined #ISRO as an Indian & ISRO is a place where people from all regions & languages work,but I am grateful to my brothers who celebrate me
pic.twitter.com/AyKPgqRCdE
READ | K Sivan Is Not On Social Media, Says ISRO, Shares List Of Official Accounts For Chandryaan-2 Updates
Known as 'sleepless scientist' among his peers, Sivan's awe-inspiring journey from paddy farms to the top of ISRO is an inspiration to many Indians. Born on April 14, 1957 in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, Sivan spent most of his childhood in studying and helping his father in paddy farms. It was his brilliance and exceptional success in Mathematics that helped him to get on path of science.
Sivan completed his Bachelors in Mathematics with an extra-ordinary result which took him to Madras Institute of Technology (MIT). At MIT, Sivan took up the study of aeronautical engineering and then went to Indian Institute of Science (IISC) to complete his ME. In 1982, he joined the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and alongside completed his PhD in Aerospace engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.
On Saturday, Indians had lump in their throats as they watched a teary-eyed Sivan after ISRO's much-hyped mission Chandrayaan-2 missed a historic touchdown on the unchartered south pole region of Moon.
The brave mission suffered a setback with the landing module 'Vikram' losing communication with ground stations, just 2.1 km from the lunar surface during its final descent during the early hours of Saturday, September 7.
However, the orbiter's on-board camera located the lost module on Sunday and efforts are underway to see whether communication can be re-established with the lander to make a historic touchdown on Moon.
