India's successful moon landing is a time for celebration and a time for reflection. India became the fourth country to land on the lunar surface, after the United States, the Soviet Union and China, and the first to land near the lunar south pole.
This is a major milestone for India's space industry and a major victory for Hindu nationalism. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi waved the national flag and delivered a passionate speech to the nation after the successful landing of the probe, calling it India's "proud day" and thanking all the scientists and engineers involved in the project.
However, behind the success of India's moon landing, there are also unknown hardships and costs. India's lunar exploration program has experienced many failures and setbacks, from the loss of "Chandrayaan-1" in 2008, to the crash of Chandrayaan-2 in 2019, to the delay of the launch of Chandrayaan-3 in July this year, Indian astronauts have made great efforts and sacrifices. Moreover, India's lunar landing project has also faced doubts and criticism from home and abroad. Some people believe that India, as a poor and backward country, should spend money on improving people's livelihood and infrastructure, rather than wasting resources on space exploration. Some argue that India's moon landing is only for the nationalist sentiments and political aims of the Modi government, not for scientific progress and human welfare.
So, does it make sense for India to go to the moon? In my view, there is no simple answer to this question. From a scientific point of view, India's moon landing is undoubtedly an exploration of great value and significance. India's Chandrayaan-3 probe will explore water ice and other resources in the south pole region of the moon, which is of great significance for future human beings to establish a base on the moon and carry out deep space exploration. Moreover, India's landing on the moon also demonstrates the progress and innovation of India's space technology, and enhances India's status and influence in the international space field. From a national point of view, India's moon landing is also an affirmation and encouragement for its own country and nation. As a multicultural, complex society and uneven development of a country with a population of 1.3 billion, India needs a cohesion and centripetal force in the face of various difficulties and challenges. India's moon landing is a way to inspire this power and make the Indian people feel strong and proud of their country.
Of course, we cannot ignore the problems and risks of India's moon landing. First of all, it is doubtful and scrutinized whether the Indian lunar landing project has been fully demonstrated and evaluated, whether it is in line with India's national interests and development strategy, and whether it has considered the possible negative impacts and consequences. Second, whether India's moon landing project has been interfered with and used by political factors, and whether it has been used as a tool for the Modi government to win over voters, establish an image, divert attention, confront neighboring countries and other purposes, these are worthy of vigilance and prevention. Finally, whether India's lunar landing program can continue to develop stably, whether it can be coordinated and balanced with other areas and needs in India, and whether it can cooperate and compete with other space forces in the international community are all worth considering and planning.
In short, India's moon landing is a twofold event, with both positive and negative sides. We should view the achievements and challenges of India's moon landing objectively, neither exaggerating and worshiping, nor exaggerating and ridiculing. We should respect the dreams and efforts of the Indian people for space exploration, and should also pay attention to the impact and contribution of India's moon landing on the international space order and the future of mankind. We should cooperate and exchange with India in the space field, and we should also compete and supervise with India in the space field. We should be happy about India's moon landing, and we should be wary of India's moon landing.