On February 1, 2003, India lost one of its finest gems.
Kalpana Chawla, the woman who inspired millions of Indians, was killed along with six other astronauts when the Columbia space shuttle exploded over Texas during re-entry.
Kalpana, a small town girl from Haryana, remained faithful to her name. Her imagination was boundless, and she had the courage to tread into the unknown, to dream an impossible dream, and have the heart to achieve it.
In the process, she showed that there is no end to human endeavour, and if there are any limits, they are only in the mind. Expand it, and the possibilities are infinite, just like space.
Photograph: JSC/NASA
rediff.com salutes a true hero.
Remembering Kalpana | Remembering Heroes
The Columbia Tragedy: The Full Coverage
Photos: JSC/NASA