Chandrayaan-3 lands on Moon! Here's how world leaders reacted to India's historic feat

Soon after India joined the elite club of nations who achieved a soft landing on the Moon’s surface on Wednesday, several world leaders congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the success of Chandrayaan-3 at the banquet dinner during the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg. Notably, with the Vikram lander touching down on the lunar surface, India is now the fourth country in the world to land a rover on the Moon and the first to do so near the South Pole. 

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and African President Cyril Ramaphosa along with other leaders were seen congratulating PM Modi in person on the success of Chandrayaan-3 at the banquet dinner organised as part of BRICS Summit.

 Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina congratulates PM Modi on success of Chandryaan-3. (Credit: ANI)

African President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulates PM Modi as India achieved successful landing on the Moon's surface. (Credit: ANI)

Meanwhile, greetings from around the world starting pouring in with several leaders taking to the microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate PM Modi on India's huge achievement to reach the Moon. Sharing his rsponse on Chandrayaan-3's successful landing, EU President said, “Congratulations to PM Modi for the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3. A historic milestone and proud moment for the Indian people. India has become a true pioneer in space exploration. This Indian success will benefit researchers all over the world.”

Congratulations to @narendramodi for the successful 🇮🇳 landing of Chandrayaan-3.

A historic milestone and proud moment for the Indian people.

India has become a true pioneer in space exploration.

This Indian success will benefit researchers all over the world.

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) August 23, 2023

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also extended his greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X and wrote, "The successful lunar landing of India's Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft represents a significant leap for collective scientific progress. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Prime Minister Modi and the people of India for this historic achievement in service of humankind."

The successful lunar landing of India's Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft represents a significant leap for collective scientific progress. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi and the people of India for this historic achievement in service of humankind.

— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) August 23, 2023

A member of the House of Lords of the UK Parliament, Lord Rami Ranger while congratulating India on the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 said history has been made as no other country has landed its craft on the Moon's South Pole. "Today, history was made as no other country landed their craft on the south pole of the Moon. It was a very emotional day for all of us. I saw the touchdown. It was a nerve-wracking experience for all those people," the UK member of parliament said. 

Following the celebrations, PM Modi also met the Indian diaspora in Johannesburg and received a grand welcome from them. Referring to the Chandrayaan-3 mission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the enthusiasm of our diaspora in South Africa for India's achievements in the space sector was truly gladdening.

Celebrations broke out after ISRO informed that the Vikram Lander, which carries a rover (Pragyan) in its belly, has succefully touched down near the South Polar region of the Moon. Following the much-awaited achievement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was watching the LIVE from South Africa, called Chandrayaan-3's soft landing on the Moon "historic" and said it sounded the bugle for a "developed India".