12/04/2026
On April 12, 1961, 65 years ago, Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space.
That same year, in November, he visited India. 🚀
Kolkata was one of the few cities that welcomed him
and the city showed up in thousands. ✨
At the then Calcutta airport, crowds gathered,
eager to catch a glimpse of the man
who had just seen Earth from space.
That very day, he addressed the press,
sharing his experience of orbiting our planet,
answering questions with calm humility.
When asked, “What does India look like from space?”
He smiled and said,
“India is very beautiful from above,
but on Earth it is even more beautiful;
it is dear because real friends live here.” ❤️
For three days,
Kolkata became a space of connection.
From the open greens of the Maidan 🌿
where he met leaders, diplomats, and citizens,
to conversations across the city
every moment carried a meaning.
He stayed at the Governor’s Palace, met aviation enthusiasts at the iconic Great Eastern Hotel,
and explored nature at the serene Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah 🌳.
A man who saw Earth from above
reminded us of something simple,
That the real beauty of our planet
lies not just in how it looks…...
but in the people who make it feel like home. 🌍
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL DAY OF HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT.
P.S. Pictures showcase some snaps from Yuri Gagarin and his wife's visit to India (in Nov 1961) with the then Indian PM Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru (Photo credits: Russian House, Kolkata).
Additionally, we have shared photos from our archives, from our 9-day Outreach Sarabhai Event cm Exhibit with the Russian House in Kolkata namely, "Human Space Flight for Peace and Friendship" 2 years back in April 2024. The event attracted 300+ students and general public across Kolkata and nearby bringing space to the mainstream discussion.
