Prime Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday attributed India’s successful moon mission to all humanity with its approach of “one earth, one family, one future”, as he richly congratulated the scientific community for making India the first country to land on the south pole of the moon.

Addressing ISRO scientists virtually from Johannesburg, he said India made a resolve “on the Earth and fulfilled it on the Moon”.

“This is a moment to cherish forever,” Modi said, noting that India has reached the south pole of the moon, where no country had ventured so far. “India is now on the moon and now is the time to walk on the ‘Chandra Path’,” the PM said.

Holding Tiranga, the PM came on the screen immediately after ISRO chief S Somanath announced the landing of space module Vikram on the surface of the Moon.

“Chanda Mama has been brought closer to the earth by this success,” Modi said in a lighter vein and hoped that soon it would be much easier to tour the Moon changing the childhood lullaby which said “Chanda mama door ke.”

As the space module started its crucial descent on the surface of the moon, Modi joined the scientists gathered at ISRO’s Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) near Bengaluru virtually.

The Prime Minister called the ISRO Chairman from Johannesburg to congratulate on Chandrayaan-3 landing on the Moon. He also told the ISRO chief that he will soon visit Bengaluru to greet the team on the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission.

In his address in Hindi and English, the Prime Minister said the momentous moment belonged not only to India but to the entire world.

“India’s successful moon mission is not India’s alone...Our approach of one earth, one family, one future is resonating across the globe...Moon mission is based on the same human centric approach. So, this success belongs to all of humanity,” Modi said.

The Chandrayaan-3’s landing on the moon is a historic moment and sounds the bugle for a developed India, Modi said. “We are witness to the new flight of new India. New history has been written,” the Prime Minister said.

Modi waved the Tricolour the moment Chandrayaan-3 landed on the moon.

The Congress said it is a collective success of every Indian, and ISRO’s achievement reflects a saga of continuity and is truly fantastic.