Astronaut Sunita Williams Meets Kalpana Chawla’s Family; 90-Year-Old Mother Shares Memories

Astronaut Sunita Williams, visiting India to participate in the Kerala Literature Festival, met the late Kalpana Chawla’s 90-year-old mother, Sanjyoti Chawla, and her sister, Deepa. The meeting was filled with warmth and nostalgic reminiscences.

Kalpana Chawla, born in India, was the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. She tragically lost her life in the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster in 2003, along with six other crew members, when the shuttle disintegrated during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. Her death was mourned deeply across India.

A Heartfelt Reunion
During the meeting on Tuesday, Williams and Chawla’s family shared warm hugs and recalled memories of their friendship and professional camaraderie as astronauts. Williams, 60, is currently on a visit to India to participate in the ninth edition of the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF), which begins on 22 January. In her brief opening remarks, Williams said returning to India felt like coming home, as it is the country of her father’s birth.

Mother Remembers
Speaking to news agency PTI, Sanjyoti Chawla recalled that after the Columbia tragedy, Williams had visited their home regularly for three months, offering comfort and support to their grieving family. “As fellow astronauts, Williams and Kalpana encouraged each other to pursue their dreams in space exploration,” she said.

Reflecting on her daughter’s life, Sanjyoti Chawla added, “Kalpana brought priceless treasures with her and taught us so much. We supported her fully in realizing her dreams.”

Kalpana’s Philosophy
The proud mother also shared Kalpana’s guiding principle: “Humanity is the only religion,” she said. When asked about her faith, Kalpana would always reply, “My religion is action (karma).” Even in remembering the profound loss of her daughter, Sanjyoti Chawla’s words conveyed deep pride in Kalpana’s life and legacy.