The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has recently successfully launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission. Among the Chandrayaan-3 launching team were 6 former students Munis, Priyanshu Kumar and Sonali Jain from AMU (Aligarh Muslim University), and Areeb Khan, Kashif, Amit from Jamia Millia Islamia.
Mohammad Munis is son of Mr. Haji Shamshad Ahmed, a resident of Deoria city working in Indian Astronomer Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, and an almuni of Aligarh Muslim University.
Mohammad Munis has played a very important role in the Chandrayaan-3 mission. He played a key role in the sequence of pyro devices and stage separation in the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
Munis’ father Janab Haji Shamshad Ahmed says, Munis had a dream since childhood to become a scientist and go to the moon. He completed his 10th standard from the famous school Jeevan Marg Sophia Secondary School, Deoria. He did Intermediate and B. Tech (Mechanical Engineering) from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and after Chandrayaan-3 he is currently working on Gaganyaan mission and Aditya-L1 mission with a vision to take India to new heights.
Priyanshu Kumar completed his B. Tech. and M. Tech. in Electronics, specializing in Electronics Circuits and System in 2014, and 2017 respectively. His expertise in power electronics played a crucial role in analyzing and testing power packages in the Lander and Rover of the Chandryan 3 Mission. Priyanshu studied at the Department of Electronics & Engineering at ZHCET (Zakir Husain College) in AMU.
Areeb Ahmad, a bright young man from West UP’s Muzzaffarpur had worked hard to become a scientist and to be included in the ISRO team for the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
Areeb’s 78-year-old grandfather, Qazi Zubair, says, “It is not just a happy moment for the family but for the whole country. Areeb was the topper in his class X and secured 95 percent in 12th Standard exams.
Pursuing his dream of becoming a space scientist, he graduated from Jamia Millia Islamia in mechanical engineering. Meanwhile, he joined the IIT Kanpur for higher studies and also worked with the Food Corporation of India.
Later, he sat for the ISRO’s Centralised Recruitment Board 2019 Examination for the post of scientist and topped it. Though initially his family wanted him to go for All India civil services his heart was in rocket science and he chose space exploration. He was a very different child. He is dedicated to his studies and is different from his siblings, says Areeb’s maternal uncle Mohammad Assad Farouqi.
“Children are often recognized by their parents’ accomplishments, but I am privileged to be known by my son’s achievement,” expressed Mr. Qazi Mehtab Zia, Areeb’s father. He always believed that Areeb would bring honor to their family, but luckily, he has now made the whole nation proud by his contribution towards the successful mission.
Sonali Jain, a 2014 graduate, was integral to controlling Vikram Lander’s height in both Chandryan 2 and Chandryan 3 missions. Sonali says, she was inspired from renowned alumna Khushboo Mirza, part of the Chandryan 1 launchpad team in 2008. Sonali also studied in the electronics department.
Chairman of the electronics department, Prof. Ekram Khan, conveyed his appreciation to Priyanshu and Sonali. Their dedication and expertise will definitely motivate other students, he added.
Meanwhile, congratulating students, Jamia VC Najma Akhtar expressed, “The success of Chandrayaan touching the moon feels like a celebration akin to Eid for us.” The success of Chandrayaan-3 mission is a moment of national jubilation for us. On this historic occasion, Jamia held collective prayers before and after the landing.
