Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appreciated Indian tech enthusiasts and people in intellectual pursuit on the occasion of National Technology Day. To congratulate technophiles, PM Modi tweeted early morning, “Greetings to everyone, especially our industrious scientists and those passionate about technology, on National Technology Day”. Every year, on National Technology Day, various people involved in spearheading their contribution for tech advancements in the country are honored with national awards by the Technology Development Board of India.

Greetings to everyone, especially our industrious scientists and those passionate about technology, on National Technology Day.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 11, 2017

The story behind National Technology Day

Pokhran II nuclear bomb, Shakti I, prior to its detonation

Since 1998, May 11 is commemorated to acknowledge the technological advancements by Indian techies. The day marks the historic feat when India detonated three nuclear bombs in the Indian Army’s Pokhran Test Range on May 11, 1998. Two days later, on May 13, two more nuclear bombs were tested and the operation was named ‘Operation Shakti’. Late President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam led the team of Indian scientists to successfully test fire the Shakti-1 nuclear.

Post this, India was declared as a nuclear state by the then then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The nuclear missile test fire at Rajasthan’s Pokhran test range made India the 6th country to join the nuclear club. Another successful test firing done on the same day was of ‘Trishul’. A part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, Trishul was developed as a short range indigenous missile made in India.

Trishul Missile

Narendra Modi and many other distinguished individuals expressed their gratitude for the tremendous breakthrough achievements by the country’s tech adherents.

We remain grateful to our scientists & the then political leadership for the courage shown in Pokhran in 1998. https://t.co/l2QMStppQ1

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 11, 2017

Technology is becoming central to good governance, advancing development, alleviating poverty & transforming lives. #NationalTechnologyDay

— Manohar Parrikar Memorial (@manoharparrikar) May 11, 2017

Our youth, technology, passion & determination,
Makes us confident to achieve our Mission Transformation !#NationalTechnologyDay pic.twitter.com/Jo7pDtUmXg

— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) May 11, 2017

The day being devoted to National Technology, how could people resist from posting online through their hi-tech devices? People from all over India celebrated the occasion on twitter by sharing their views and memes as well.

In today's world nobody can escape technology. One has to reinvent and adapt every now and then #NationalTechnologyDay pic.twitter.com/c8Lk7mToit

— Sajjan Jindal (@sajjanjindal) May 11, 2017

#NationalTechnologyDay A Better world? pic.twitter.com/6NuYtDJ2UD

— Shantanu Shah (@Nerd_BaNa2) May 11, 2017