On September 1, 2009, US Astronaut Col. Michael E. Fincke visited Assam & Meghalaya as an official guest of the two North Eastern States. He was accompanied by his wife Renita and three children, Chandra, Tarali, and Surya, as well as his in-laws, Rupesh & Probha Saikia. Mike whom we fondly refer to as “Axomor Juwai” and his family were escorted with full police security throughout his tour of Assam and Meghalaya. On September 2, 2009, the Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi felicitated Mike for his remarkable achievements and his special contribution to the students of Assam. Mike handed over to the Chief Minister an Assamese Gamosa flown in the International Space Station which was autographed by several astronauts. It may be noted that in September 2008, Mike reached out from aboard the International Space Station (Expedition 18) to the school and college students of Assam and the North Eastern States to inspire them and create awareness of space exploration. Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters along with the US Government, NASA, and Government of India and the state governments made this extraordinary feat possible with their meticulous planning and execution. In his two-week tour of Assam and Meghalaya, Mike was felicitated by a large number of organizations in public ceremonies attended by thousands of people. He also participated in several seminars at the IIT, Guwahati. Additionally, at St. Anthony’s College, Shillong Mike addressed a 1000 strong group of school students representing the entire North East Region. While in Guwahati the All Assam Student’s Union greeted him with great enthusiasm.
The students of Jatiya Vidyala, Guwahati had the opportunity to see Mike in person, some of whom had the opportunity to telecommunicate with him from space last year. True to his humble nature, amid all these prestigious functions, Mike made time to lay the foundation stone for a guest house and hostel for Parijat Academy, a school for the under privileged in Pamohi. Certainly the entire NE region has overwhelmingly expressed their appreciation and gratitude for Mike’s efforts to enfold them in NASA’s quest for advancing the frontiers of human knowledge and understanding through space exploration. The gist of Mike’s message to the students of the NE is that dreams can come true by sheer hard work and discipline despite economic hardship.