Bangalore: A glittering occasion got up to a pomp and rendezvous celebration to mark a graduation ceremony in a school transformed itself into a platform to pay glowing tributes to India-born American astronaut Kalpana Chawla, who was among seven astronauts killed in the space shuttle Columbia disintegration.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman Dr Kasturirangan led the dignitaries gathered at the venue in showering rich tributes to Kalpana, describing her as a "woman of determination and the one who made India proud".

Kasturirangan, invited to present awards to meritorious students of the Bishop Cotton boys' school at its graduation ceremony to honour those passing out from the 12th standard, said Kalpana born in a poor family in a remote village of Karnal in Punjab had the grit and courage to realise her dream of becoming an astronaut.

He hailed her talent for having selected by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) twice for its space programme, coming out in flying colours in all the tests she was put on facing stiff competition among the competitors.

Kasturirangan said he had no occasion to personally meet her, but the correspondence she had exchanged with him bore testimony to the person she was.

He said after Kalpana's successful maiden space mission, he visited NASA and was elated to hear of her exemplary qualities and added the NASA chief himself remarked "she is a terrific woman".

Former Union Minister Margaret Alva too joined Kasturirangan in paying tributes to Kalpana.

The students and their parents who had gathered on the occasion rose in silence for a minute as a mark of respect to Kalpana and six other astronauts.

PTI