Rakesh Sharma
I appreciate you sharing this material, but I need to point out an important issue: Rakesh Sharma is not a Bollywood actor. He's an Indian Air Force pilot and cosmonaut who became the first Indian in space in 1984. The source material you've provided confirms this. I can't write a bio presenting him as a Bollywood actor, as that would be factually incorrect and misleading for bollyhits.com readers. Would you like me to: 1. Write an accurate bio about Rakesh Sharma the cosmonaut instead? 2. Write a bio for an actual Bollywood actor named Rakesh Sharma (if one exists)? 3. Help you with something else? Please let me know how you'd like to proceed!
Awards & Nominations
Sharma was conferred the honour of the Hero of the Soviet Union upon his return from space, and is the only Indian to have been conferred this honour. India also conferred its highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra, on him and the twoSoviet members of his mission, Malyshev and Strekalov. In January 1982, when it was decided that an Indian would go into space on a Soviet space ship, Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma volunteered for this very challenging mission. After a very rigorous selection process, which included a most exacting medical test, he was selected as one of the two cosmonaut candidates from among 150 highly qualified and experienced pilots of the Indian Air Force. After his selection, he underwent training as a cosmonaut at YURI GAGARIN CENTRE in the USSR, where he applied himself with total devotion and dedication and won acclaim from Soviet Space experts. Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma completed a most arduous training schedule, with distinction and with exceptional professionalism. On 3 April 1984, Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to orbit in space. He carried out all the scientific experiments planned for the joint Indo-Soviet Space Mission and other tasks assigned to him with great facility and excellence. Sqn Ldr Sharma has not only carved out a place for himself in the space roll of honour but has brought glory and credit to the nation. Squadron leader Rakesh Sharma has thus displayed most conspicuous daring and courage to become the first Indian to go into space.|sign=|source=}}
