It takes Rs. 10 per kms in Ahmedabad by auto- rickshaw, but it took us only Rs. 7 per kms to reach Mars.

We live in a highly competitive world - and we Indians have to struggle to catch up. So modesty is necessary, even if there is also a need for a certain amount of national pride. When it comes down to it, we have managed our country's economy poorly for long enough. There is really no reason to now think that we can conquer the world.

As far as I'm concerned, I'm doing it out of pride. It's something to be proud of: that I'm actually in with all the 'Biggies' - all the biggest stars - and that I can do something worthwhile. Yes, I'm proud more than anything.

Every generation has its defining works. More than 300,000 people worked to put a man on the moon - including that janitor. Millions of volunteers immunized children around the world against polio. Millions of more people built the Hoover dam and other great projects. These projects didn't just provide purpose for the people doing those jobs, they gave our whole country a sense of pride that we could do great things.

I dream of a Digital India where high-speed Digital Highways unite the Nation.

Our ancestors had, at some point, displayed great strengths in space science. What people like Aryabhata had said centuries ago is being recognised by science today. What I mean to say is that we are a country which had these capabilities. We need to regain these.