'My position at ISRO was threatened, could have...': ISRO Chairman S Somanath makes big revelations

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) created history on August 23 by landing near the south pole of the Moon on August 23, making India only the fourth nation to land successfully on the lunar surface after the US, Russia and China.

ISRO Chairman S Somanath spoke to NDTV about his professional and personal journey and asserted the importance of India creating and establishing a "permanent habitat" on the Moon, Mars and exoplanets.

Speaking about the journey at ISRO, Somanath said it wasn't all very easy for him. "Don't think everything was nice for me in my life...I also faced challenges in personal life and official life. You (referring to himself) can be thrown out of an organisation...Your position can be threatened (and) you are sometimes not even treated with great respect," Somanath told NDTV.

Somanath recalled an incident that had deeply affected him. "Many years ago... in launch of GSLV Mark-III expedition, there was every possibility of a failure but somebody had to take the decision (of launching) and I took it. I think I was threatened... that it would be a 'colossal failure'," he said.

"But there was nobody else and I did it...and it was successful. Many things happen in life like that," he added. He further said, "'You are not a suitable person (for this role)'...I hear all this criticism but you have to raise yourself above these silly things. Once you reach that point (of self-confidence) you can look at people like this and smile. Their silly acts can be ignored."