Guwahati, September 03, 2009: NASA astronaut colonel Edward Michael Fincke today urged the young generations of North East India to have big dreams and work hard.

"Have big dreams and work hard, nothing is impossible," he said while speaking at a function organised by the Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS) to accord public felicitation to him and his family members at the Machkhowa Pragjyoti ITA Centre for Performing Arts here this evening.

The NASA astronaut said that if one dreams to go to the moon, one can.

"If you have a dream, work on it.

We have the desire to show the young people that if we work in a planned manner and in coordination, we can accomplish what we want to do".

Recalling his space talk with the students of North East region while aboard the International Space Station (ISS) early this year, the NASA astronaut said that it is important to continue such conversation with the students.

"We can continue our conversation and we have come here to share our experiences with the people here, specially the young ones so that they can have big dreams," he said.

He also informed the gathering that in his boyhood he had a dream to go to the space one day but his family did not have the money.

However, the family with the help of other people could make him translate his dreams into reality, he said, suggesting that all hurdles could be overcome if one has the strong will to accomplish something.

Referring to the view of the NE from the space, he said that the lush green NE India with the mighty Brahmaputra flowing through it was seen while aboard the ISS.

The cultural atmosphere is also good for everyone.

The future of Assam is bright.

The greatest natural resource of this area is the people.

Investment on science and technology should be made for development of the human resources, he said.

Addressing the function Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the relation Mike has established with the people of this region was a good beginning and the NASA astronaut should continue this relation with the people, particularly with the young generation of the region.

Mike's wife Renita Saikia Fincke, who was also felicitated, addressed the function and introduced their three children, Chandra, Tarali and Surya to the gathering.

Significantly, Tarali was born when Mike was in the ISS.

Rupesh Saikia and Manju Saikia, parents of Renita, were also felicitated in the function.

Fincke was conferred the title "astronaut of the people" by the FASS.

The Chief Minister also presented a gamocha, a chadar, a sarai, a japi and a citation on behalf of the people to Mike.

Fincke presented the gamocha he carried to ISS as a token of love for the people of the State to the Minister .

The gamocha contained signatures and photos of his of his colleague astronauts and authenticated by the NASA.

Presenting the gamocha, Mike said that he had brought it back from the space as a souvenir.

It will be kept at a public place for public view.

On the occasion, an 18-minute film on Mike's life on the ISS made by Dr SI Ahmed on behalf of the FASS was also screened.

Santikam Hazarika, president of Indian chapter of FASS welcomed the guests while FASS Indian chapter secretary general Bidyananda Borkakati and Jayanta Barman introduced Mike and Renita.

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