Latest news with #Suchi
Indian Express
a day ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Before astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's space mission, excitement anxiety & a little prayer
For the last few days, the sprawling white single-storeyed Anshu Niwas in one corner of Lucknow's Triveni Nagar has been seeing a steady stream of friends, relatives, well-wishers and the media. They are all there for one reason – to offer their good wishes to the owners of the house, the Shuklas, for their 39-year-old Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu 'Gunjan' Shukla's maiden flight to space. On June 10 – over 10 months after the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) first announced his name as one of four astronauts as part of Axiom Space's fourth commercial mission to the International Space Station – Shubhanshu will take off on a two-week Indo-US mission. Commandeered by veteran US astronaut Peggy Whitson, the Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4) mission will take off onboard SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, making Shubhanshu only the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma's iconic spaceflight onboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft in 1984. Shubhanshu is currently undergoing mandatory quarantine at the Kennedy Space Centre, and his family back at home is both excited and anxious about the mission, his parents Shambhu Dayal Shukla, a 73-year-old former civil servant, and Asha Shukla, 67, tell The Indian Express. 'We had been hearing about his space journey for a long time, and naturally, there were many questions that came to our minds. But there was no one we could turn to and ask what really happened up there and what he would be doing,' she says. That anxiety was allayed after a dinner and a conversation with Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe, who happened to be in Lucknow, on May 9. Over the dinner that lasted 3-4 hours, Stibbe, who was part of the historic Axiom-1 (Ax-1) mission to the ISS in 2022, told them in great detail about his own space mission and encouraged the couple to ask him questions. 'He brought along a presentation he made for us,' Shubhanshu's 40-year-old sister Suchi says. 'Over dinner, he told in great detail how they lived, ate, and slept in space. He didn't speak about the challenges he faced. Instead, he told us about the beauty of the journey. His face shone with the happiness of having seen, achieved, and experienced so much.' Shubhanshu's father Shambhu Dayal, who retired as a joint secretary in 2013 in Lucknow, adds: 'All our worries and doubts have now been put to rest. We are only praying for his safe journey'. Born in Lucknow on October 10, 1985, Group Captain Shubhanshu is the last of three children and has three older siblings — Nidhi, 43, an MBA graduate and a homemaker and Suchi, a school teacher. He is also the first in his family to join the armed forces, with his family initially encouraging him to take up civil services. From the premier National Defence Academy, Shubhanshu was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on June 17, 2006. 'I wanted to ask him to prepare for civil services after his Class 12 exams in 2002,' Shambhu says. 'But a friend of his decided to apply to the National Defence Academy (NDA). When he discovered that he was too old to qualify for the exam, he gave the form to Shubhanshu.' Shubhanshu married his wife Kamna Shukla, a dentist, in 2009. Kamna is currently in Florida with the couple's six-year-old son to see the launch of the mission. Over the years, Shubhanshu has served in various parts of the country — including Bhuj, Jodhpur, and Srinagar — and was in Bengaluru when his name was announced for the mission. Those who know him describe Shubhanshu as 'not reserved but not one to talk to everyone'. 'He respects everyone but prefers to connect only with those he feels comfortable around,' his sister Suchi says. Even as a child, he was 'very focused and very prompt when it came to his work,' his father Shambhu. 'He had very few close friends, mostly kept indoors and never went out alone to buy anything from the market, so it's unlikely that many people in the neighbourhood knew him well,' he says. Indeed, in Triveni Nagar, not much is known about Shubhanshu. 'We only found out that Shubhanshu is from our area when we saw it on the news. After speaking to others, we got to know more about him. We had never seen him before and didn't even know he had cleared the NDA,' Rakesh Mishra, a resident of Triveni Nagar, says. But at Shubhanshu's City Montessori School, it's a different story. His math teacher Nageshwar Prasad, 55, remembers him as a good student. 'Shubhanshu would give equal importance to sports and studies,' Prasad, who also taught Shubhanshu's wife Kamna, says. Back at the Shuklas, the family says that while they are no longer anxious, they admit to feeling jittery as the date of the take-off approaches. Despite this, they know that their son is not one to stray away from challenges. 'We were initially scared when he said he wanted to join the armed forces. Then we were anxious when he said he would spend over a year training in Russia to become an astronaut, mainly because he's never one to ever go out anywhere alone. But he's adapted himself to challenges,' his proud mother Asha says. While Shubhanshu's parents had initially planned to travel to Florida to see their son off, plans changed after his mother Asha developed severe spondylitis that made travel difficult. As a result, they take comfort in the little things – such as daily video calls and phone calls that he makes to assure them of his well-being. 'We now plan to hold a puja before his mission,' Shambhu says.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Moong Dal Halwa to Aamras, know what Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is carrying for Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission
India is poised to make a historic return to space as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force pilot and astronaut, will take off as a part of Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission. He, along with three other astronauts, will leave from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida (USA) on June 10 (IST 5.52pm) to the International Space Station (ISS) that they will dock in 28 hours (on June 11). Back in the 39-year-old's hometown, Lucknow (UP), his family is praying for a successful mission, as it will make him the second Indian astronaut to pilot a spaceflight since Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's 1984 mission. 'He has been quarantined for a fortnight now, but once a day, he joins us for a group call, as his wife, Dr Kamna Shubha Shukla, and five-year-old son, are with him in Florida. We are all so excited, but also very nervous,' says Shubhanshu's sister Suchi Shukla, a science teacher in Lucknow. Suchi adds, 'He is very hopeful and wants this mission to motivate the upcoming generations. I have shifted into my parents' home for a few days and our eldest sister is also coming down from Noida so that all of us can cheer for him together.' Shubhanshu is carrying a few Indian delicacies with him. 'He is carrying moong dal halwa, gajar ka halwa, aamras and rice. He is excited to share the delicacies with the other astronauts too. Since Indian food is high on spices, he wasn't getting the permission to carry them. But finally, they did allow a few varieties. He is a fitness-freak and highly into yoga so I am sure he will balance it,' says Suchi. Shubhanshu's father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, a retired government employee, tells us that a 'Satyanarayan Swami katha and a hawan' are being organised to pray for a successful mission. 'The entire family is praying for him and we are all very confident and positive. Ab darr nahin lag raha hai. We are happy that his name will go in history books,' he says. Shubhanshu's mum, Astha Shukla, adds, 'Woh khud bahut excited hai ki woh Bharat ke liye kuch naya karne jaa raha hai. Bas jaldi se mission khatam kar ke wapas aa jaaye.' While he is not allowed to disclose the personal belongings he's carrying, Shubhanshu's sister feels her brother is 'carrying our photos'. She adds, 'He cannot disclose due to protocol. Once you take anything to space, it becomes a certified object that has travelled to space. So, he will bring those back and it will be memorabilia for us. We will only get to know what those things are once he's back.' City Montessori School in Lucknow, Shubhanshu's alma mater, is celebrating the feat by organising a YyomNite carnival at its Kanpur Road branch. 'All the students and staff are electrified that our alumnus Shubhanshu is undertaking this extraordinary journey, carrying the hopes of 1.4 billion Indians with him. The research he does there will push the boundaries of scientific knowledge and will be used for the advancement and prosperity of humankind,' says school manager Prof Geeta Gandhi Kingdon. They will live stream the event and the carnival will have exploration areas, space photoshoots, activity camp and mission control centre. His family members will also join the event.
India Today
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Exclusive: Girl group W.i.S.H wants to collaborate with Jungkook, Dua Lipa
90s kids of India have swayed to tunes by all-girl groups like Viva and Asma, and have tried to look as cool as they did! However, at a time when pop was progressing in countries like South Korea and Japan, India saw a slump. In fact, there hasn't been a new girl group in 22 years! That changed with the emergence of W.i.S.H in as the group says, stands for 'World inka Stage Hai'. With four super-talented members - Ri (Riya Duggal), Sim (Simran Duggal), Zo (Zoe Siddharth), and Suchi (Suchita Shirke) - the band is already making waves in a year. In an exclusive interview with India Today Digital, W.i.S.H speaks about their initial challenges, working together while maintaining individuality, what sets them apart from K-pop groups, global stars they would like to collaborate with, and their goals for from the interview... There has not been a girl group for 22 years and then you guys made a smashing entry to the scene. Why do you feel it took more than two decades for a girl gang to be formed?Ri: We have amazing musical talent and culture in India but I feel so far, the industry has been dominated by Bollywood and the culture of playback singing. In the 90s, there were many pop artists and groups like Asma, Band of Boys, Euphoria, etc. but Bollywood music soon took over. With social media booming, we are seeing a shift in the trend of there being more non-film pop artists in the limelight and audiences are accepting this new different-sounding music. It takes a lot of effort, infrastructure, and investment to launch a girl group which we've been lucky to have. Mikey McCleary, the brain behind W.i.S.H, had this same thought of why there hasn't been a girl group for 22 years, and the rest is were the initial challenges of coming together as a group, and how did you overcome them?Suchi: So we all come from different musical backgrounds and experiences. The sisters were independent artists releasing their songs as a duo... Zo was on the stage and switched to her duo too. I was working as an intern in a film production company and music/dance was just my pass time. When we came together we all had a lot to learn from each other .. to sit and write music together isn't quite easy because there are too many opinions but somehow because we all were on the same page in terms of music style luckily it all worked smoothly. When it comes to dance and rehearsals .. we all have to really push ourselves at times and that takes a lot from us because we all have different body types.. but come what may... we have 'the show must go on' attitude on, always!How do you ensure each member's individuality shines while maintaining the group's cohesive image?Ri: The great thing is that the four of us each have our strengths or areas where we excel, and we make sure right from our songwriting to our final music videos, that we highlight these aspects. Suchi is a fantastic dancer, she also has a very cool rhythmic style of writing. Zoe has a wonderful husky tone, she usually takes care of all the lower harmonies that none of us can reach. Sim has a very high vocal range (whistle tones and all) and pop voice. I'm all over the place (laughs) - I like singing soft as well as belted vocals and also enjoy breaking into character with our raps!advertisementWe usually write songs and parts keeping these in mind and make sure everyone has their solo moment to shine. We also know when we have to take a back seat and let others do their thang because, at the end of the day, we are one group and steps do you take to compete on a global scale, especially in terms of production quality, choreography, and marketing?Sim: We've been regularly training and working towards Wish in singing and dancing for 2 years before we launched in March. And even before wish, our experience in our own individual careers we were working as professional singers and performers. Releasing music in English and other globally spoken languages while preserving local flavors. Showcasing Indian culture and its diversity as a strength and USP. We couldn't have asked for a better music label in Sony Music, as they bring their expertise and experience. And lastly, the four of us are deeply involved in every step of the process to make sure whatever we do is world-class!advertisementiPop is gaining momentum globally. How do you see Wish contributing to this movement, and what sets you apart from international girl bands, especially K-pop groups?Suchi: W.i.S.H is fresh and brand new right now.. we are writing and composing songs everyone would love to listen and dance to.. it usually caters to young gen-Z girls and boys who love pop music. The four of us have grown up listening to a lot of pop music as kids and now as ipop is gaining momentum globally we're sort of aware of the drill to make our songs known.. we're all working hard to take W.i.S.H on a global sets us apart from other groups is, I guess .. we all have distinct personalities and styles but at the same time we're also a lot like each other.. we don't really follow a K-pop type system of diets and who is the leader/vision etc etc.. it's a chill system .. all good in the hood.. we just enjoy making music and dancing to it!advertisementK-pop has set a benchmark for discipline and training. How does Wish adopt or differ from such rigorous preparation?Zoe: Training is necessary either way, whether it's a K-pop girl group or an Indian one. However, K-pop has a built-in system and its production of groups has been going on for decades. India doesn't have that boot camp training system here as we are the first girl group made in India in over 22 years. We're paving the way to create this form of music and artists to be prevalent K-pop, teens are trained to do this professionally, whereas the four of us are professionals who have come together to put all our experience into making this succeed. We do believe that we need to train and work hard and stay consistent, but we are also a part of the creative process for most parts of the girl group, and so we need to be in all areas at order to find balance, we have to make sure we are physically training, but not overworking, and then using our minds and vocal abilities for the rest. We won't be able to follow the K-pop method, so what we are doing is making our own do you approach blending Indian cultural elements with global music trends to create a unique identity for W.i.S.H?Ri: There's always a fine balance to be achieved when fusing two different styles. Our approach thus far has been to have Indian melodies over Western production styles to maintain that connection with our audiences. We do what feels true to us, which really is an amalgamation of Indian plus Western music. We're also listening to the global trends, so we subconsciously end up writing in a way that fits the are natural in a collaborative space. How do you guys address and resolve creative differences among members?Suchi: Of course, we sometimes clash over certain opinions because we're all different and come from different musical backgrounds .. but there is a constant reminder in our heads that we have to work as a team.. and it's us against the world all the time. So resolving conflicts is always done most maturely.. also we all have a sister back at home.. we're a pair of sisters .. all four of us .. so we understand how to deal with things and get over these your ultimate goal for W.i.S.H.—both as a band and as individual artists?Zoe: Our ultimate goal for the group is to really become successful and make India proud, that way we can PAVE THE WAY to make this genre more prominent in India, we want more girl groups, boy bands, and performers who sing and dance and make pop dance music to start rising from India and then hopefully take over globally. We want W.i.S.H. (And hopefully a lot more acts to follow) to create this new space in our music the one thing you'd like to change in the Indian music industry to support the rise of girl bands like yours?Sim: If there's one thing I'd like to change in the industry, then it would be creating an ecosystem where talent is valued over gender. Diversity and breaking stereotypes should be the main priority, as should encouraging the audience to support women's acts. We're so lucky to be backed by a label that has been investing their time, money, and efforts into us and more labels should follow in their you could collaborate with any global artist or band, who would it be and why?Sim: There are too many, it's hard to pick just one. We would love to collaborate with Dua Lipa, Bruno Mars, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, and Jungkook. They're not only good singers, they're also amazing performers and it would be a dream to learn from them and be on the same level as them recreated Boom Boom recently. What made you choose this song?Ri: Disco is back! And, Boom Boom is the best song to present the glitz and glam that comes with it to the new gen. Compositionally and lyrically it's a song that we love, and a great song to showcase our vocals, especially live! 2024 was your debut year and you have already started making a mark. What was the highlight of 2024?Zo: Ooof! It's hard to choose just 1 highlight. We are still buzzing off of our Bangalore show on December 22, which was our first-ever solo concert. So, that show would be the highlight, but there are so many more amazing things to remember this year - performing at YouTube Fanfest, making the event song for the ICC T20 women's World Cup, 5 original releases and so much more!What are your goals for 2025?Zo: We have a long list of goals for 2025, starting with more shows. We have been preparing and rehearsing, and now we're ready to kickstart gigging and performing our music to people live. We have so much music in store and want to keep putting out more music. We're going to make sure we continue to work hard, stay determined and dream big. W.i.S.H. is here to stay and slay!
Mint
30-04-2025
- Business
- Mint
Suchi Semicon makes pilot chip shipment to US, awaits government approval for financial benefits
Suchi Semicon, promoted by Surat's Suchi Group, appears to be making slow but steady progress in the outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) space, having dispatched its first consignment within five months of starting operations. "We have shipped our first pilot batch to a US-based client," co-founder Shetal Mehta told Mint in an interview, declining to identify the buyer. The startup, which is awaiting approval from the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) for incentives offered by the government, hopes this milestone will 'open more doors." Since starting operations in December 2024, Suchi focused on setting up machines, assembling dummy wafers and training staff. 'There were no trained people available, so the first three months were about trials and building our workforce," Mehta said. The first commercial wafer arrived at Suchi in March and following successful assembly and internal tests, the pilot shipment was dispatched in mid-April. The US client will evaluate it over two weeks, after which Suchi plans to start small-batch production and scale up gradually. OSAT companies package and test semiconductor chips after fabrication. While chipmakers produce the silicon wafers, OSAT firms encase them in protective housing and test them, preparing them for use in smartphones and cars. Currently, Suchi handles only packaging; testing is outsourced to a partner nominated by the client, according to Mehta. The US customer represents a crucial "anchor" for Suchi. 'In semiconductors, one client takes a leap of faith and that builds credibility with others," Mehta explained, adding that talks are under way with 10 potential clients in India and abroad. Mehta has his work cut out. On the positive side, geopolitical factors such as trade tensions and the push for supply chain diversification are prompting countries to invest in domestic semiconductor capabilities. As a result, regions such as India are emerging as potential hubs for semiconductor manufacturing and OSAT services. But he has his challenges, too. For one, India has already approved three OSAT projects. Tata Electronics Private Ltd (TEPL) will invest ₹ 27,120 crore to build a facility with a production capacity of 48 million units per day in Assam, using indigenous technologies. CG Power and Industrial Solutions Ltd will invest ₹ 7,584 crore to set up an OSAT facility in partnership with Renesas Electronics (US/Japan) and STARS Microelectronic (Thailand), targeting 15.07 million units per day. Mysuru-based Kaynes Technology India Ltd (KTIL) will invest ₹ 3,307 crore in Gujarat to produce over 6.33 million chips daily with global technology partners. Foxconn, too, is reportedly planning to invest up to ₹ 424 crore in a semiconductor joint venture with HCL Group that includes an OSAT plant. Secondly, the global OSAT market size is projected to grow to $92.2 billion by 2034 from $46.5 billion in 2025, according to Precedence Research. The Asia-Pacific OSAT market size was $26.3 billion in 2024 and is expected to increase to $56.2 billion by 2034. However, this segment is dominated by a few large companies—ASE Technology Holding (Taiwan), which holds about 50% of the market, followed by Amkor Technology (US) with about 18%, and JCET Group (China) at about 12%. Together, the top three control over 80% of the market, making it a highly consolidated industry. Mehta remains optimistic of winning approval from the ISM to get government incentives and support under the Semicon India programme, which has an outlay of ₹ 76,000 crore for the development of the semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in the country. The scheme includes fiscal support of 50% of the capital expenditure on setting up OSAT facilities. 'Approvals are slow because the industry isn't benchmarked. But once approved, the credibility and fiscal support will be a game-changer," he said. The company currently employs about 80 people, including seasoned professionals from Southeast Asia with decades of experience. 'We're in a challenging space—but where there's difficulty, there's opportunity," he added. Setting up an OSAT facility involves substantial investment, though it costs significantly less than building a chip fab. A basic OSAT facility costs $100-200 million, while advanced plants can go beyond $500 million ( ₹ 4,000 crore). Most companies invest in phases, starting small and expanding capacity as demand grows. Suchi plans a phased $100 million investment over five years. Mehta pointed out that the project is "a capex-intensive business but is majorly self-funded." He added that "there are no VCs or funds at the moment. We have not looked at that path. But we are open if a big fund is looking to invest in this space." The first ₹ 100 crore phase was to build the pilot line and core infrastructure. 'By the end of this year, we aim to produce 300,000 pieces per day, scaling up to 1 million, then 2 million, and finally 3 million," Mehta said. He added that he is "expecting to close around ₹ 70 crore in annual revenue this financial year." The Suchi Group, according to Mehta, also plans to tap into semiconductor design, which he pointed out is a "complementary" business. He reasons that while OSAT is capital-intensive, design is not. 'India already has a strong design base. It's a natural synergy with packaging," he said, noting plans to invest under ₹ 5 crore in this vertical. 'We're at the same stage as China was 20 years ago," Mehta said, underscoring India's potential to build a resilient packaging ecosystem. With strategic investments, policy support, and global realignment of supply chains, he believes India's OSAT sector could emerge as a strong alternative in the semiconductor value chain.
Hindustan Times
22-04-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission's astronaut-designate Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's mantra is ‘to dream big'
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian Air Force (IAF) test pilot chosen for Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission next month, is set to become the first Indian to visit the International Space Station. The 39-year-old astronaut-designate will pilot India's first human spaceflight in 41 years since Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's 1984 mission. Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh announced this recently. Group Captain Shukla is currently training in Houston, US and cannot speak to the media, as per protocol. However, his sister, science teacher Suchi Shukla tells us, 'He is super-excited about it. We're a little scared, but we are very happy and proud of him. I am getting goosebumps and shivers as we speak as it will be a moment of pride for all of us as 'humre India se koi jaa raha hai' and the world is talking about is a very big achievement.' Suchi quotes him, 'His favourite line these days is to 'dream big'. He says: 'If you dream big then kahin na kahin to approach karke pahuchogey. And, once you reach that point and people will start recognising you, loving you and giving their best wishes – everything gets aligned. It all starts with dreaming big.' Who knew a boy from Lucknow will make it and he did.' He was shortlisted under ISRO's Human Spaceflight Program (HSP) and is among the top contenders for the Gaganyaan mission, India's first indigenous crewed orbital flight. Minister Narendra Modi confirmed Group Captain Shukla's participation in ISRO's Human Spaceflight Program at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram last February. 'The mission was announced in 2018; it was my desire to explore more in life that made me apply. Around 70 pilots had applied and the selection took almost a year,' Group Captain Shukla said in an earlier interview. Suchi shares, 'Becoming a pilot was not on his mind, but the Kargil War of 1999 made an impact on him.' After graduating City Montessori School, Aliganj, Lucknow in 2001, he joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) and was commissioned into the IAF in 2006. 'His friend got an NDA form but decided not to go; so he [Shubhanshu] randomly filled the form. After clearing the exam, he took permission and went for it,' Suchi explains. Group Captain Shukla shares a five-year-old son with his wife, dentist Dr Kamna Shubha Shukla, whom he married in 2009. His family lives in the Triveni Nagar locality in Lucknow and his father Shambhu Dayal Shukla has retired from Secretariate while his mother Asha Shukla is a housewife. Shubhanshu was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on June 17, 2006. A highly experienced combat leader and test pilot, Shukla has logged over 2,000 flight hours on a wide range of aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32.
