On This Day: April 4, 1984, Rakesh Sharma Becomes the First Indian to Lift into Space

On the historic day of April 4, 1984, India was ready to set on a new journey of discovery as Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma, along with two Soviet cosmonauts, ascended into space aboard Soyuz T-11, marking a historic meeting with the orbiting laboratory Salyut 7. The Soviet spacecraft was propelled into an elliptical orbit by a towering booster rocket that ignited at 6:38 PM IST. The launch was breath taking as the rocket blazed across the clear sky.

Chandigarh Clashes

Professor V N Tiwari, a Rajya Sabha member, was fatally shot by terrorists in Chandigarh, and 10 others lost their lives as a mob and police clashed in Amritsar during the funeral procession of BJP leader Harbans Lal Khanna. A near-total shutdown was observed in Punjab and Chandigarh. Two individuals, posing as students, visited his house and opened fire when Tiwari came to greet them.

AFSPA In Punjab

In a significant move to combat terrorism, the Punjab government granted extensive powers to police and paramilitary forces in the state under the Armed Forces (Punjab and Chandigarh) Special Powers Act, 1983, for a duration of three months. This decision was made in response to the escalating terrorist activities and mob violence in Punjab. This marks the second instance of the state administration invoking the special act to suppress violence.

PM On Space Flight

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi stated that with the launch of the first Indian into space, Indo-Soviet friendship had taken on a "new dimension". "It is a moment of pride for us," Mrs Gandhi said. She expressed hope that the first Indian cosmonaut would symbolize the message of peace, which was Mahatma Gandhi's legacy and Jawaharlal Nehru's legacy to India.