REACHING FOR THE STARS

Kalpana Chawla,Indias first woman astronaut to go in to space was born in 1961 in Karnal to Banarasi Lal chawla and sanjyoti.Youngest in a family of four children ,Kalpana had two sisters and a brother.Her father's people had come to India from pakistan during the riots followin partition carrying nothing more valuble with them than their innate optomism and resourcefulness .Although the family was economically comfortable by the time Montu-as kalpana was fondly called at home--was born,she as well as her brothers and sisters grew up on

accounts of the remarkable hard work and perseverance that had got the family where it was .Speaking to india Today before the launch of the columbia in 2003 Kalpana said about the early of years as a member of chawla family.'you could'nt lose by working hard, and ecery one seemed to follow the rule.It helped insitl the notion that no matter what the circumstances .you can indeed follow your dreams'.It is thus easy to understand how the grit and determation so characteristic of the family elders left a deep and lasting impression on young kalpana . Memmories of u only .India us proud of u