The Russian Cosmonaut, Mikhail Kornienko

The Russian Cosmonaut, Mikhail Kornienko, who was expected to visit us at 12 noon today turned up 2 and a half hour early to attend the opening of the Rosatom Festival of Science & Culture. The programme started with the formal opening of the Festival. There was not one media person present, it was not expected as well more so we had announced that Mikhail Kornienko will be addressing the students at 12 noon. We had a series of events including art demonstrations by Sir JJ School of Art, courtesy my friend Prof Sable, the Dean.

I just took a chance to enquire if Mikhail would spare 30 minutes for his on the spot portrait painting, which one of the JJ School of art student volunteered to do in front of large number of students and audience. Truly grounded, incomparably humble, an extraordinary human being that Mikhail is, accepted our request in less than blink of an eye. Unfortunately the spot chosen by the artist where a chair was placed for Mikhail to sit had no fan and was relatively hot, yet Mikhail sat through his committed 30 minutes intermittently asking how was his portrait painting progressing. In the promised time the artist could complete the painting, which Mikhail very happily signed and this painting rightfully will adorn the office of the Director Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai once it is duly framed.

Mikhail addressed the jam packed auditorium supported by several video clips of his stay at the International Space Station with his compatriots and innumerable stunning images of Earth from the space station. He took several questions from the students and media. Although no where near to the 70 plus media team that we had encountered with tens of cameras during the visit of Sunita Williams visit to the centre, courtesy the hype that NASA had created and our very own efforts of trying to rope in as many press as possible reaching them through PIB, the Press Club etc, yet for the Mikhail’s visit, we had about 12 media persons including the die hard compulsive space correspondent, Srinivas Laxman in attendance. We also had 3 TV reporters who along with other journalists had a special closed door interaction with the Cosmonaut. Mikhail was at his diplomatic best during the press interaction. When pinned by Srinivas to comment on what his relationship was with his American counterpart Kelly, Mikhail surprised Srinivas with his master stroke answer. He said “ I could mix with him and chat with him much more than his Russian fellow cosmonauts” and added “ that at the ISS all the astronauts (for the Americans) or Cosmonauts( for the Russians) irrespective of whether they are from Russia, USA or Japan we are all one small family in a confined space”. He patiently answered every question. The challenge of avoiding collision with space debris was some thing that press may pick up. He said they came so very close to one of the space debris, which at the speed at which it was travelling - 30metres per second- would have wiped out the ISS had they not avoided the collision.

What was most amazing was the humility and simplicity of Mikhail Kornienko the National hero of Russia. He patiently posed with innumerable students and visitors for a selfie, and signed several autographs. While we expected him to spend an hours time at the centre he ended up spending more than 5 hours. The experience was truly memorable, which we will remain etched in our memories. A big thank you Mikhail and the Rosatom team.